GenSDF: An MPI-Fortran based signed-distance-field generator for computational fluid dynamics applications.
Published in SoftwareX, 2025
This paper presents a highly efficient signed-distance field (SDF) generator designed specifically for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) workflows. Our approach combines the parallel computing power of Message Passing Interface (MPI) with the performance advantages of modern Fortran, enabling precise and scalable computations for complex geometric domains. The algorithm focuses on localized distance calculations to minimize computational overhead, ensuring efficiency across multiple processors. An adjustable input stencil width allows users to balance computational cost with the desired level of accuracy in distance approximation. Additionally, the generator supports the widely used Wavefront OBJ format, utilizing its encoded outward normal information to achieve accurate boundary definitions. Performance benchmarks demonstrate the tool’s ability to handle large-scale 3D models with high fidelity and reduced computational demands. This makes it a practical and effective solution for CFD applications that require fast, reliable distance field computations while accommodating diverse geometric complexities.
Recommended citation: Patil, A., U. C. K. Paranjothi, and C. García-Sánchez, (in review, SoftwareX), GenSDF: An MPI-Fortran based signed-distance-field generator for computational fluid dynamics applications.
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