Parallel simulation of non-linear phenomena with cellular automata

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to the problem of simulating wave propagation in elastic solids, using Cellular Automata. The main objective of this work is to develop a cellular automaton model which allows to understand several complex or non-linear phenomena that occur in the propagation of stress waves. These phenomena, such as soliton propagation, viscoelasticity, discontinuities, fracture mechanics and many others, are often hardly expressed by means of differential equations, or, if they do, it is very difficult to solve the final equations analytically. By the use of CA, where a microscopical description of the behaviour of each element is made, it is intended to prove that complex phenomena such as plasticity, energy losses and so on can be worthily simulated. This kind of description makes easier the experimentation with many different systems, since the number of characteristic parameters is small.

This paper has been partially supported by Spanish Government grant CICYT TIC-96-1071