ASPECT
Changes after the latest release (v2.3.0)

This is the list of changes made after the release of ASPECT version 2.3.0. All entries are signed with the names of the author.

  1. New: ASPECT now has a cookbook which uses the gravity postprocessor to compute gravity generated by S40RTS-based mantle density variations.
    (Cedric Thieulot, 2021/08/31)

  2. Changed: We now require CMake version 3.1.0 or newer.
    (Timo Heister, 2021/08/19)

  3. New: The GMG solver now supports boundaries with mesh deformation, although free surface boundaries are still not supported.
    (Timo Heister, 2021/08/05)

  4. New: The GMG solver now supports masked velocity boundary conditions specified as [xyz]:.
    (Timo Heister, 2021/07/16)

  5. New: There is now a cookbook that visualizes the phase diagram from results of a model run. This includes examples from the Visco-Plastic and Steinberger material model.
    (Haoyuan Li and Magali Billen, 2021/07/16)

  6. New: The matrix-free GMG Stokes preconditioner is now implemented for the Newton solver.
    (Timo Heister, Menno Fraters, Jiaqi Zhang, 2021/07/15)

  7. New: There is now a cookbook that reproduces convection models with a phase function from Christensen and Yuen, 1985.
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/14)

  8. Changed: The latent heat material model is now consistent with the density in the phase function formulation from Christensen and Yuen, 1985.
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/14)

  9. New: There is now a rising velocity output variable in the depth average postprocessor.
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/13)

  10. New: CMake now detects and reports an error if the user tries to do an in-source ASPECT build. Please create a separate build directory before running cmake.
    (Rene Gassmoeller, Timo Heister, 2021/07/13)

  12. New: ASPECT now has a cookbook which shows how velocities can be prescribed at positions specified by an ASCII input file.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/13)

  13. Fixed: The sinking velocity depth average postprocessor now computes the actual sinking velocity (and not the rising velocity).
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/13)

  15. New: The geoid postprocessor can now handle a deforming mesh (free surface), next to the already existing option from the dynamic topography postprocessor output.
    (Maaike Weerdesteijn, Rene Gassmoeller, Jacky Austermann, 2021/07/12)

  16. Changed: The "surface stress" visualization postprocessor used to just output a number of independent components. Like the "stress" and "strain rate tensor" postprocessors, it now outputs these as a tensor field.
    (Wolfgang Bangerth, 2021/07/11)

  17. New: The thermodynamic lookup equation of state can now read in a column that contains the name of the dominant phase from the data tables.
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/10)

  18. Fixed: The "prescribed_dilation" and "additional Stokes RHS" options now work correctly with the Newton solver.
    (Sibiao Liu, 2021/07/09)

  19. New: There is now a postprocessor that computes the maximum depth of each compositional field at each timestep.
    (Anne Glerum, 2021/07/09)

  20. New: There is now a geometry model plugin "chunk with lithosphere boundary indicators" that allows for two different types of boundary conditions on the side boundaries of a chunk domain. On each side boundary, two boundary indicators are available to set these different boundary conditions. A use-case can be prescribed plate motions on the upper part of the domain and an open boundary underneath the plates.
    (Anne Glerum, 2021/07/09)

  21. Changed: The Boundary temperature model plugin now requires that the "Fixed temperature boundary indicators" parameter is non-empty whenever the "Model names" parameter is not empty.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/09)

  22. Improved: Particle operations have been optimized for speed. Particles now always carry a hidden internal property that stores properties necessary for their advection scheme. These properties are not written into output but are included if the particles are asked for their properties internally.
    (Rene Gassmoeller, 2021/07/08)

  23. New: There is now a ‘static’ option for the temperature field that is set-up similarly to the ‘static’ option for compositional fields. This allows the temperature field to be static while advection is on so you can still advect and build up elastic stresses.
    (Rebecca Fildes, Magali Billen, 2021/07/08)

  24. Changed: When using the constant temperature boundary plugin, ASPECT now checks that the Fixed temperature boundary indicators match the indicators in the model subsection.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/09)

  25. New: ASPECT now has a ThermodynamicTableLookup equation of state plugin. This plugin allows material models to read in one or more Perple_X or HeFESTo table files, interpolate material properties at desired pressures and temperatures, and use the interpolated properties as material model outputs. The equation of state plugin is currently used in the Steinberger material model.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/08)

  26. New: It is now possible to use default or single values for Peierls creep parameters in composite (viscoplastic) rheologies with phase transitions.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/08)

  27. New: There is now a termination criterion based on the steady state heat flux.
    (Juliane Dannberg, 2021/07/07)

  28. New: Tests can now depend on another test if a special tag 'DEPENDS-ON:' is specified in the test parameter file.
    (Rene Gassmoeller, 2021/07/07)

  30. New: Added a new input parameter Elastic damper viscosity to Rheology::Elasticity. This parameter corresponds to the viscosity of a viscous damper which deforms at the same strain rate as the elastic element. The default value of 0 Pas corresponds to purely elastic deformation.
    (Bob Myhill, 2021/07/07)

  31. New: It is now possible to only call the world builder to determine initial compositions for selected compositional fields by specifying the parameter 'List of relevant compositions' in the world builder initial composition plugin.
    (Rene Gassmoeller, Juliane Dannberg, 2021/06/25)

  32. New: Added a cutoff stress to Rheology::PeierlsCreep.

    In parameterisations of the Peierls creep flow law where the power law stress exponent is equal to zero, the strain rate does not approach zero as the stress drops to zero. This is a problem, because the iterative solve for the equilibrium stress may yield a negative stress at low strain rates (which results in a negative viscosity).

    The Peierls creep rheology module now includes a parameter "Cutoff stresses for Peierls creep". At stresses below the cutoff, the strain rate is modelled as a quadratic function of the stress (edot_ii = astress^2 + bstress). This effectively means that Peierls creep transitions into power law creep and then a linear rheology as stress decreases below the cutoff.


    (Daniel Douglas, 2021/03/23)