GIDE: Graphic Interface for Discrete Element - Visual Computing: Scientific Visualization and Imaging Systems - page 74

Fig. 3.14 Example of change of representation

3.4.1 Flexibility of Representation

In GIDE, a discrete element is an indivisible entity, and it is a unitary element. It is
thus possible to select it, to manipulate it, to track it, to decorate it, etc. This
approach is very different from representations by meshing. It more closely mat-
ches the granular world and enables the virtual experimental medium to be
observed and dissected, and its characteristics extracted for comparison with
theory.
The drawing of an element in GIDE is done via plugins, affording a repre-
sentation library adapted to each phenomenon under study. By default the name
DATASET is the name of the plugins giving, for example, the possibility of
changing the representation during display. Some simulations are done in 2D or
the body is considered mechanically as a cylinder when it is actually comprised of
spherical elements; in this case, the user needs to change the representation
according to the desired approach.
The change in representation is done according to the available plugins. The
following figures illustrate the example of the spherical representation becoming
cylindrical (Fig. 3.14 ).

3.4.2 Representation of Physical Data

Apart from displaying the position of a body, a researcher often studies other
physical phenomena: temperature, speed, electric potential, etc. He should there-
fore be able to display these data. The notion of decorators has been implemented
in GIDE; it is based on Design Pattern. It allows the graph representing the scene
to be modified by adding nodes. The modifications are cumulable with each other.
The representation of forces can, for example, be activated with that of tempera-
tures (Fig. 3.15 ).