Prerequisites

Before you begin any of the tutorials, you will need to install PyLith following the instructions in Chapter 3 in the PyLith User Manual. For more complex tutorials, you will also need either the CUBIT or LaGriT mesh generation packages to create your own mesh. If you do not wish to create your own mesh at this time, the meshes are also provided as part of the tutorials. The ParaView visualization package may be used to view simulation results. You may use other packages, but some adaption from what is described here will be necessary. Alternatively, you can complete a subset of the tutorial using files provided (as described in each tutorial), skipping the steps for which you do not have the proper software packages installed.

The files needed to work through the tutorials are found in the examples directory in the top-level PyLith directory. There are four examples in examples/twocells, each consisting of just two cells (elements). These very simple examples make use of PyLith mesh ASCII format to describe the mesh. This format is useful for understanding the basics of how PyLith works, since it is easy to create these files by hand. More complex problems, such as those found in examples/3d, will require the use of a mesh generation package to create the meshes. All of the files used in the example problems are heavily documented, which should help users to understand the different file formats.

Tutorial 1: Using Two Linear Triangles and PyLith Mesh ASCII Format

This tutorial is the simplest 2D example of a quasi-static finite element problem (a simpler problem would consist of a 1D bar). It is a mesh composed of two linear triangles subject to displacement boundary conditions, assuming plane-strain linear elastic behavior. Due to the simple geometry of the problem, the mesh may be constructed by hand, using PyLith mesh ASCII format to describe the mesh.

Tutorial 2: Using Two Bilinear Quadrilaterals and PyLith Mesh ASCII Format

This tutorial is another simple 2D example of a quasi-static finite element problem. It is a mesh composed of two bilinear quadrilaterals subject to displacement boundary conditions, assuming plane-strain linear elastic behavior. Due to the simple geometry of the problem, the mesh may be constructed by hand, using PyLith mesh ASCII format to describe the mesh.

More tutorials are found in Chapter 5 of the PyLith User Manual