YADE is a flexible framework built with dynamic libraries for extensibility. Its capabilities make it a suitable platform for a broad range of applications.
The software comes with a diverse array of numerical simulation methods and algorithms. As part of its design, Yade aims to abstract these underlying concepts by employing a range of techniques, including the Finite Element Method (FEM), Discrete Element Method (DEM), coupling FEM with DEM, mass spring system, lattice beam model, and Tetrahedron Discrete Model. With C++ implementation based on Object-Oriented Design principles, these abstractions provide users with an interface that allows them to plug in different modeling methods.
Though primarily intended to work with other numerical methods beyond the list above, Yade comes with several advantages. For starters, it enables numerous simulation methods in a single framework, making it possible to couple them. Secondly, plugins can import data from other software. In addition, the thoughtful code design of Yade helps promote code reuse and improvement. Lastly, the open-source development model makes it possible to obtain community feedback.
However, users seeking to implement their models need to adhere to the framework's design, which is one of the software's few limitations. Also worth noting is that Yade is still a new emerging software in its beta phase. With these limitations in mind, Yade is a promising software that can be a valuable asset to those seeking to create and experiment with numerical models.
Version 0.12.1: N/A