Surface Evolver Documentation - Newsletter 14

# Surface Evolver Newsletter no. 14

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                        Surface Evolver Newsletter Number 14
                                  August 15, 1996

                       Editor: Ken Brakke, brakke@geom.umn.edu

    Contents
      Version 2.01
      New features and changes
      Tetrahedralization
      grad/postdoc opening wanting Evolver experience

    Version 2.01
      Surface Evolver version 2.01 is now available at
      http://www.geom.umn.edu/locate/evolver
      or by anonymous ftp from geom.umn.edu in /pub/software/evolver.
      This version is mostly bug fixes, but with a couple new features
      as listed below.

      There are new Mac 68K and Power PC versions in Evolver68K.sea.Hqx
      and EvolverPPC.sea.Hqx, respectively.  This is the first native
      Power PC version, and the first 68K update in a year.

    New features and changes

      There is a new no_refine attribute for edges and facets.  It
      prevents edges from being subdivided by the 'r' command.
      Useful for large flat fixed surfaces or outlines.

      You can create new elements on the fly with new_vertex, new_edge,
      new_face, and new_body.

      The V command has been tweaked to work better on constrained vertices.
      Also, there is a new command vertex_average to do individual
      vertex averaging on the vertices of your choice.

      Command output can be appended to a file using the >> redirection
      symbol, as in    { g 100; u; g 20 } >> "logfile"

      Equiangulation has been implemented for surfaces made of 3D
      simplices.

      The knot_energy method now uses "node_charge" vertex attribute
      for calculating its electrostatic-type energy.  Useful for
      spreading network graphs out in 3D.

      There is an experimental implementation dynamic link libraries for
      functions used in constraints, boundaries, integrands, etc.
      This can replace interpreted functions with compiled functions
      for greater speed.

      DOS, Windows versions leaves alphanumeric escape sequences alone
      in quoted strings, so path names don't get mangled.

      The variables transform_expr and transform_count can be printed,
      so you can see the current state if you are using multiple
      image transforms.

    Tetrahedralization.

      Some users are interested in constructing tetrahedral meshes
      of the inside of an Evolver surface, e.g. for doing stress
      analysis on solidified solder.  I've put together a set of
      programs that does this, which those interested may get by
      anonymous ftp from geom.umn.edu as /priv/brakke/tetra.tar.

    Research Opportunity wanting Evolver experience:

    	Project:  3-D Imaging of Flexible Polyurethane Foam

    	   -  Advisers:  Xiaodaong Zhang and Professor Chris Macosko
    		         (Chemical Engineering and Material Science)

    	   -  Goals:     To image foam using laser confocal microscopy and
    	 	         other methods and use existing software
    			 (such as Koros, Surface Evolver) or create
    			 algorithms to size foam cells

    	*  Graduate assistant or Postdoctoral salary level

    	*  Potential for industrial interaction

    	*  Desired qualifications:
    	   -  Strong math skills (particularly geometry)
    	   -  Works well with computers (programming not necessary)
    	   -  Experience with image processing and UNIX
                  (desirable but not necessary)

    	*  For further information, please contact Xiaodong Zhang
               (send resume to apply):
    	     Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
    	     University of Minnesota
    	     151 Admundson Hall
    	     421 Washington Avenue SE
    	     Minneapolis, MN 55455
    	     Phone:  625-8573
    	     E-mail:  zhan0063@maroon.tc.umn.edu

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