CHRONO: a parallel multi-physics library for rigid-body, flexible-body, and fluid dynamics

Abstract. The last decade witnessed a manifest shift in the microprocessor industry towards chip designs that promote parallel computing. Until recently the privilege of a select group of large research centers, Teraflop computing is becoming a commodity owing to inexpensive GPU cards and multi to many-core x86 processors. This paradigm shift towards large scale parallel computing has been leveraged in CHRONO, a freely available C++ multi-physics simulation package. CHRONO is made up of a collection of loosely coupled components that facilitate different aspects of multi-physics modeling, simulation, and visualization. This contribution provides an overview of CHRONO::Engine, CHRONO::Flex, CHRONO::Fluid, and CHRONO::Render, which are modules that can capitalize on the processing power of hundreds of parallel processors. Problems that can be tackled in CHRONO include but are not limited to granular material dynamics, tangled large flexible structures with self contact, particulate flows, and tracked vehicle mobility. The paper presents an overview of each of these modules and illustrates through several examples the potential of this multi-physics library

CHRONO: a parallel multi-physics library for rigid-body, flexible-body, and fluid dynamics

The last decade witnessed a manifest shift in the microprocessor industry towards chip designs that promote parallel computing. Until recently the privilege of a select group of large research centers, Teraflop computing is becoming a commodity owing to inexpensive GPU cards and multi to many-core x86 processors. This paradigm shift towards large scale parallel computing has been leveraged in CHRONO, a freely available C++ multi-physics simulation package. CHRONO is made up of a collection of loosely coupled components that facilitate different aspects of multi-physics modeling, simulation, and visualization. This contribution provides an overview of CHRONO::Engine, CHRONO::Flex, CHRONO::Fluid, and CHRONO::Render, which are modules that can capitalize on the processing power of hundreds of parallel processors. Problems that can be tackled in CHRONO include but are not limited to granular material dynamics, tangled large flexible structures with self contact, particulate flows, and tracked vehicle mobility. The paper presents an overview of each of these modules and illustrates through several examples the potential of this multi-physics library

Chrono: A Parallel Multi-Physics Library for Rigid-Body, Flexible-Body, and Fluid Dynamics

The last decade witnessed a manifest shift in the microprocessor industry towards chip designs that promote parallel computing. Until recently the privilege of a select group of large research centers, Teraflop computing is becoming a commodity owing to inexpensive GPU cards and multi to many-core x86 processors. This paradigm shift towards large scale parallel computing has been leveraged in Chrono, a freely available C++ multi-physics simulation package. Chrono is made up of a collection of loosely coupled components that facilitate different aspects of multi-physics modeling, simulation, and visualization. This contribution provides an overview of Chrono::Engine, Chrono::Flex, Chrono::Fluid, and Chrono::Render, which are modules that can capitalize on the processing power of hundreds of parallel processors. Problems that can be tackled in Chrono include but are not limited to granular material dynamics, tangled large flexible structures with self contact, particulate flows, and tracked vehicle mobility. The Chrono::Engine software is a general-purpose simulator for three dimensional multi-body problems. Target applications include tracked vehicles operating on granular terrain or the Mars Rover operating on discrete granular soil. In these applications, it is desirable to model the granular terrain as a collection of many thousands or millions of discrete bodies interacting through contact, impact, and friction. Note that such systems also include mechanisms composed of rigid bodies and mechanical joints. These challenges require an efficient and robust simulation tool. Chrono::Engine wa