What is Getfem++

The Getfem++ project focuses on the development of a generic and efficient C++ library for finite element methods. The goal is to provide a library allowing the computation of any elementary matrix (even for mixed finite element methods) on the largest class of methods and elements, and for arbitrary dimension (i.e. not only 2D and 3D problems).

It offers a complete separation between integration methods (exact or approximated), geometric transformations (linear or not) and finite element methods of arbitrary degrees. It can really relieve a more integrated finite element code of technical difficulties of elementary computations.

Examples of available finite element method are : Pk on simplices in arbitrary degrees and dimensions, Qk on parallelepipeds, P1, P2 with bubble functions, Hermite elements, Argyris element, elements with hierarchic basis (for multigrid methods for instance), discontinuous Pk or Qk, XFem, vectorial elements (RT0, Nedelec) ...

The addition of a new finite element method is relatively easy. Its description on the reference element must be provided (in most of the cases, this is the description of the basis functions, and nothing more). Extensions are provided for Hermite elements, piecewise polynomial, non-polynomial, vectorial elements and XFem.

The library also includes the usual tools for finite elements such as assembly procedures for classical PDEs, interpolation methods, computation of norms, mesh operations (including automatic refinement), boundary conditions, post-processing tools such as extraction of slices from a mesh ...

Getfem++ can be used to build very general finite elements codes, where the finite elements, integration methods, dimension of the meshes, are just some parameters that can be changed very easily, thus allowing a large spectrum of experimentations. Several examples are provided (see the screenshot section).

Getfem++ has no meshing capabilities (apart regular meshes and a small attempt), hence it is necessary to import meshes. Imports formats currently known by getfem are GiD , GmSH and emc2 mesh files. However, given a mesh, it is possible to refine it automatically.

Gmm++

Getfem++ includes a generic matrix template library inspired by MTL and ITL.

Matlab interface

A Matlab® interface to this library is also provided. Hence it is possible to use Getfem++ without any knowledge of C++. Moreover, this interface provides some post-processing functions which use matlab graphics. A great effort has been made to offer pictures that represent precisely the finite element solution (i.e. preserve discontinuities across elements, preserve polynomial order of f.e.m,..), and tools are provided for slice views with respect to a plane/half space/cylindar/sphere, and streamlines. The pictures from the screenshot section were all generated via the Matlab interface.

Python interface

A python interface is also available, it is very similar to the Matlab one. Coming soon: the graphical fpost_processing unctions with tvtk.

Awards

Getfem++ has been awarded by the second price at the "Trophées du Libre 2007" int the category of scientific softwares.

Licence

Getfem++ is freely distributed under the terms of the Gnu Lesser General Public License, either version 2.1 of the license or any later version.