Grid generator tool for MMACE

Summary form only given, as follows. The grid generator tool for MMACE connects existing grid generator technology to the research engineering framework (REF). It will read geometry from the database and allow the user interactively to construct grids which meet the needs of MMACE application tools. The initial focus is on 2-D rectangular grids for existing MMACE applications such as particle-in-cell, magnet, and gun codes. We expect to show results from the grid tool running in a work-station environment. The tool provides capabilities for automatic or user-directed identification of key points of the geometry which need to be matched to the grid. From these grid markers, and templates containing the gridding strategy, the tool generates the entire grid. When aspects of the geometry move, the grid markers move with them, thus providing automated re-gridding. Since application run times are often affected by the size of the smallest cell and the total number of grid points, the tool will track and display these. In addition, the gridding template may contain constraints on these parameters and will identify conflicts to the constraints. An application programming interface (API) is being constructed to provide easy and standardized access to the grid information model within the MMACE database. The grid tool will be built upon the API and will output the grid to the database for use by MMACE applications. The API will provide standardized facilities for applications to retrieve the grid.