Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1157
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1157
01 Apr 2025
 | 01 Apr 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).

Matter (v1): An open-source MPM solver for granular matter

Lars Blatny and Johan Gaume

Abstract. Simulating the mechanics and flow of granular media requires numerical methods that can handle extreme deformations, along with accurate constitutive models capable of capturing phenomena such as elasticity, shear banding, viscous behavior, compressibility, intergranular attractive forces and rate-dependent friction. In pursuit of this, this article introduces Matter, a Material Point Method (MPM) solver equipped with a range of models to describe dry and cohesive granular media. Rooted in a finite strain elastoplastic framework, this software features Drucker-Prager models, overstress models, critical state mechanics models as well as the µ(I)-rheology. This includes the recently proposed "critical state µ(I)-rheology model" for cohesive and compressible flows. Moreover, Matter provides a simple way of dealing with complex terrains and introduces a novel material-induced frictional boundary condition. Implemented in C++ with few required dependencies and parallelized on shared memory, it represents a lightweight yet computationally efficient option for laptops and desktops.

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Short summary
Matter is a new computer model that simulates granular media like sand, snow, and soil. These...
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