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Using CALFEM for Python

For the main introduction to CALFEM, the finite element workflow, and the standard function groups, see the CALFEM manual. This page only summarizes the Python package layout and points to the local Python-specific documentation.

What is CALFEM for Python?

  • Subset of CALFEM routines implemented in Python
  • Using NumPy for matrices
  • Additional mesh generation routines supporting Triangle and GMSH
  • Plotting with Matplotlib, plotly (interactive) and vedo (3D)

CALFEM Python modules

  • calfem.core
  • Element routines
  • System routines
  • calfem.utils
  • I/O routines
  • Misc. routines
  • calfem.geometry
  • Routines for defining problem geometry used for input in mesh generation
  • calfem.mesh
  • Mesh generation routines
  • calfem.vis/calfem.vis_mpl
  • Routines for visualising geometry, meshes and results with Matplotlib. calfem.vis is an alias for calfem.vis_mpl.
  • calfem.vis_plotly
  • The same routines as calfem.vis_mpl with interactive plotly figures, e.g. for Jupyter notebooks.
  • calfem.vis_vedo
  • Visualisation of 3D models with vedo.
  • calfem.io
  • Export of meshes and results to ParaView and other tools (via meshio), saving and loading of meshes and geometries.
  • calfem.vis_visvis
  • The former visvis based calfem.vis. Deprecated, visvis is no longer maintained.

Examples

The CALFEM manual contains the canonical worked examples. This documentation keeps only the Python-specific mesh examples locally.

For background on the standard element, system, graphics, utility, and matrix functions, use the manual together with the local function reference.