The StGermain Framework
Enabling communities of scientists to iteratively develop computational codes
Uses of StGermain
Development of the framework is driven by application projects of a computational nature. Derivative works span finite difference and finite element discretisations of Stokes Flow and Solid Mechanics physics.
Underworld
Underworld is a parallel modelling framework for long-term geophysics
research codes, which utilises a Lagrangian particle-in-cell finite element
scheme (the prototype of which is the Ellipsis code), and visualised using
gLucifer.
Underworld (Monash University) is under development as part of the
Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator (ACcESS) Snark and data-
assimilation projects. ACcESS is an Australian government funded Major
National Research Facility.
Underworld is the most mature of the StGermain derived framework, CSD's
core computational mechanics technology. It forms the
basis for the the GALE project, and was the foundation of Xanthus.
gLucifer
gLucifer is a general visualization framework based upon the
foundation and domain components of StGermain. It provides both
interactive and background (compute time) rendering but
concentrates on the latter. This enables the rendering of computationally
intense, remotely running applications that are either too large to
transmit or too large to render on a local workstation. Instead gLucifer
provides the user a 4-D streaming movie.
It is tartgetted for Underworld, but can be used for any grid or particle
based computational models that either have the source code available or
leverages the StGermain constructs. It provides a toolkit for the
development of analysis of model phenomena. To achieve this gLufier
incorporates z-buffering composition of parallel rendering, implemented
through OpenGL and MPI.
gLucifer (Monash University) is under development as part of the
Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator (ACcESS), an Australian
Government National Research Facility.
SPModel
SPMODEL implements a parallel algorithm for deriving a large-scale
(continental) landscape evolution governed by several generalized
classes of processes, namely: short-range (hill-slope) sediment
transport processes, long-range (channel) sediment transport processes,
marine sedimentation, flexural response to surface loading-unloading,
kinematic imposed surface displacements designed to simulate surface
rupturing faulting, generalized tectonic displacements not associated
with surface rupturing faults, and sea-level change.
SPModel (University of Melbourne) is under development as part of the
Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator (ACcESS), an Australian
Government National Research Facility.
Xanthus
Xanthus
Xanthus is a research project into the multi-scale simulation of metal
forming, which uses the StGermain computational framework. The ultimate
aim is to create a framework for developing multi-scale solid-mechancis
modelling.
Xanthus is developed for Deakin's Advanced Materials Processing and
Performance (AMPP) research team which has an interest in the development
of new materials, products and processes through the controlled manipulation
of he microstructure of metals at several levels from nano-scale to macro-
scale.
GALE
Gale is a parallel, two- or three-dimensional, implicit finite element
code focusing on orogenesis, rifting, and subduction with coupling to
surface erosion models. Gale uses a hybrid particle-in-cell scheme which
combines a deformable mesh of computational points and a dense arrangement
of mobile material points. The boundaries of the deformable mesh conform to
the boundaries of the material as the simulation progresses, but the
interior is constrained to remain as regular as possible. The particles
track history-dependent properties such as strain for strain-softening
materials. This allows Gale to simulate problems with large deformations
and irregular boundaries. It is a concrete application built upon
Underworld.
The Computational Infrastructure in Geodynamics (CIG), an initiative of the
NSF in the USA, has developed Gale in response to community demand. It
leverages on existing work by VPAC and Louis Moresi's group at Monash
University.
MADDS
MADDS is a research project to model the dynamics of magma migration using
the StGermain computational framework. It aims to accurately simulate
the process of mantle deformation, melting and melt transport through a
porous media, as observed at tectonic plate boundaries. These processes
are to be modeled via a coupling of Stokes flow for the (porous) solid
phase and Dracy's law for the fluid. The model is to be implemented
incrementally in accordance with a suite of benchmark problems in
consultation with the magma dynamics community.
MADDS is being implemented as a collaboration with the Computational
Infrastructure in Geodynamics (CIG). It
leverages on existing work by VPAC and Louis Moresi's group at Monash
University.