PyLith v3.0.2 released

PyLith
1

PyLith v3.0.2 now available

I am pleased to announce the release of PyLith 3.0.2, a finite-element code designed to solve dynamic elastic problems and quasistatic viscoelastic problems in tectonic deformation.

You can download the source code and binaries from
https://geodynamics.org/resources/pylith

Documentation
https://pylith.readthedocs.org/en/v3.0.2

Release Notes

This is a bug fix release with no new features or changes to the user interface.

  • Add check of PyLith version against version requirements specified in metadata of parameter files.
  • Update defaults to better match most use cases.
    • Use nonlinear solver.
    • Basis order is 1 for solution fields.
    • Basis order is 0 for Cauchy stress and strain.
    • Use ML algebraic multigrid preconditioner (from Trilinos) instead of GAMG preconditioner for more robust solves. This is a temporary change until we find better GAMG settings.
  • Update PETSc to v3.17.3.
  • Remove obsolete LaTeX documentation.
  • Bug fixes
    • Add viz directory missing from examples/subduction-2d in source distribution.
    • Project output fields using correct PETSc routine (DMProjectFieldLabel()). Fixes memory access bugs in both serial and parallel.
    • Fix build warnings.
    • Fix reordering that causes errors when importing Gmsh files.
  • Documentation
    • Add discussion of translating boundary value problem information to parameter settings. Add more code blocks to manual.
    • Add discussion of examples/troubleshooting-2d to manual.

Binary packages

  • Added PyQT5 Python module for interactive plotting with matplotlib.
  • Update PyLith Parameter Viewer to v2.0.1 (fix errors in packaging).

Known issues

  • The default PETSc options provide a computationally expensive preconditioner when solving incompressible elasticity problems in parallel. We expect to have a more optimal preconditioner in the next release.
  • You may still encounter a few bugs when running in parallel; they appear to cases with specific partitioning of the mesh in relation to one or more faults.

Note: We are preparing to release v3.0.3 soon. We have fixed several bugs related to running in parallel, but we still have some issues to address.

Contributors

  • Brad Aagaard
  • Matthew Knepley
  • Charles Williams