PyParticles

PyParticles is a particle simulation toolbox entirely written in python.

The main objective of PyParticles is to provide a system API simple and fast to use. Furthermore is to provide a basic application for the implementation of simple models.

Blog: http://pyparticles.wordpress.com/

GitHub: https://github.com/simon-r/PyParticles

Index

• Programming examples I
  • The Solar System
• Programming examples II
  • 250K Particles Fountain
• Problem Config file
  • Config file description:
  • Section: pset_origin
  • Section: set_config
  • Section: model
  • Section: animation
  • Examples:
• Testing Procedures
  • Test problems definitions
  • Tests results
  • Analytical solutions plot
• pyparticles Package
  • pyparticles Package
  • Subpackages

Features

Simulate a particle by particle model with the most popular integrations methods, and it represents the results on a OpenGL or Matplotlib plot.

PyParticle includes the followings integrations methods

1. Euler method
2. Leap Frog method
3. Rung Kutta method
4. Midpoint
5. Stormer Verlet method

As a forces model it includes:

1. Gravity
2. Particle by Particle spring
3. Constant
4. User defined field
5. Lennard Jones
6. Drag
7. Damping
8. Electromagnetic fields

We have also the possibility of modeling the forces with user-defined constraints (See demo cat_spri).

PyParticle offers an easy to use class structure with a fully interchangeable integrations method or force model, it also implements the possibility to add some boundary model.

Requirements

PyParticles require the following packages:

numpy : http://scipy.org/Download

scipy : http://scipy.org/Download

pyopengl : http://pyopengl.sourceforge.net/

matplotlib : http://matplotlib.org/

For more details about the installation visit the Blog: http://pyparticles.wordpress.com/installation/

Command line tool usage:

In PyParticles a simulation model is entirely described in a config file that should be edited by the user.

The following are the main command of the PyParticles application.

Start the demo simulation:

pyparticles_app

Start a simulation described in a config file

pyparticle_app <file_name>

Start the specified demo simulation

Demos
springs	3 body springs
solar_system	Simulation of the solar system with realistic magnitudes
bubble	Bubbles. With a non realistic force
cat_spri	Vibrating string with gravity and air drag
gas_lj	Lennard jones gas model (should be improved)
elmag_field	Electromagnetic field
fountain	250‘000 particles fountain

pyparticles_app --demo springs
pyparticles_app --demo solar_system
pyparticles_app --demo bubble
pyparticles_app --demo cat_spri
pyparticles_app --demo gas_lj
pyparticles_app --demo elmag_field
pyparticles_app --demo fountain

Start a testing procedure Execute the specified test:

pyparticles_app --test harmonic
pyparticles_app --test fall

Write out a model config file

pyparticle_app -m

Print out the help and version

pyparticles_app --help
pyparticles_app --version

During the simulation you can toggle the help message by pressing h

Config file Example:

[pset_origin]
media_origin = from_file
file_name = solar_sys.csv

[set_config]
len_unit = 149597870700.0
mass_unit = 5.9736e24
boundary = open

[model]
force = gravity
ode_solver_name = euler
time_step = 3600
steps = 1000000
force_const = 6.67384e-11
force_vector = 0 0 0

[animation]
animation_type = opengl
xlim = -5.0  5.0
ylim = -5.0  5.0
zlim = -5.0  5.0