libMesh - A C++ Finite Element Library

The libMesh library is a C++ framework for the numerical simulation of partial differential equations on serial and parallel platforms. Development began in March 2002 with the intent of providing a friendly interface to a number of high-quality software packages that are currently available.

A major goal of the library is to provide support for adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) computations in parallel while allowing a research scientist to focus on the physics they are modeling. The library currently offers:

• Partitioning Algorithms
  • Metis K-Way weighted graph partitioning
  • Parmetis parallel graph partitioning
  • Hilbert and Morton-ordered space filling curves

• Generic 2D Finite Elements
  • 3 and 6 noded triangles (Tri3, Tri6)
  • 4, 8, and 9 noded quadrilaterals (Quad4, Quad8, Quad9)
  • 4 and 6 noded infinite quadrilaterals (InfQuad4, InfQuad6)

• Generic 3D Finite Elements
  • 4 and 10 noded tetrahedrals (Tet4, Tet10)
  • 8, 20, and 27 noded hexahedrals (Hex8, Hex20, Hex27)
  • 6, 15, and 18 noded prisms (Prism6, Prism15, Prism18)
  • 5 noded pyramids (Pyramid5)
  • 8, 16, and 18 noded infinite hexahedrals (InfHex8, InfHex16, InfHex18)
  • 6 and 12 noded infinite prisms (InfPrism6, InfPrism12)

• Generic Finite Element Families
  • Lagrange
  • Hierarchic
  • Discontinuous Monomials

• Dimension-independence
  • Operators are defined to allow the same code to run unmodified on 2D and 3D applications
  • The code you debug and verify on small 2D problems can immediately be applied to large, parallel 3D applications

• Sparse Linear Algebra
  • PETSc provides a suite of iterative solvers and preconditioners for serial and parallel applications
  • Complex values are supported with PETSc
  • LASPACK provides iterative solvers and preconditioners for serial applications
  • The SparseMatrix, NumericVector, and LinearSolver allow for transparent switching between solver packages. Adding a new solver interface is as simple as deriving from these classes

• Mesh IO & Format Translation Utilities
  • Ideas Universal (UNV) format (.unv) with support through MeshData for arbitrary float data, like boundary conditions, associated with mesh entities
  • Sandia National Labs ExodusII format (.exd)
  • Amtec Engineering's Tecplot binary format (.plt)
  • Amtec Engineering's Tecplot ascii format (.dat)
  • Los Alamos National Labs GMV format (.gmv)
  • AVS Unstructured UCD format (.ucd)

• Mesh Creation & Modification Utilities
  • refine or coarsen a mesh: prescribed, level-one-compatible, or uniform
  • build equispaced n-cubes out of Edge2, Tri3, Tri6, Quad4, Quad8, Quad9, Hex8, Hex20, Hex27
  • build circles/spheres out of Tri3, Tri6, Quad4, Quad8, Quad9, Hex8
  • add infinite elements to a volume-based mesh, handle symmetry planes
  • convert Quad4, Quad8, Quad9 to Tri3, Tri6
  • convert a mesh consisting of any of the fore-mentioned n-dimensional linear elements to their second-order counterparts
  • distort/translate/rotate/scale a mesh
  • determine bounding boxes/spheres
  • extract the mesh boundary for boundary condition handling or as a separate mesh