Opened 17 years ago

Closed 17 years ago

Last modified 16 years ago

#193 closed defect (wontfix)

Mesh generation (and consequently, timestepping) differs between Linux and Windows.

Reported by: ole Owned by: Nick
Priority: normal Milestone:
Component: Functionality and features Version:
Severity: normal Keywords:
Cc:

Description (last modified by ole)

The same script and same ANUGA version generates slightly different meshes on different platforms. The example anuga_work/development/demos/island.py shows this. I have checked in the generated meshes using the names island_linux.msh and island_windows.msh. On either platform the timestepping is dramatically different depending on which mesh is being used. Here's some output:

Using the Linux mesh

Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 7208
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.644829, 9.596606]
    number of distinct areas: 7208
    Histogram:
      [0.644829, 1.540006[: 5421
      [1.540006, 2.435184[: 1610
      [2.435184, 3.330362[: 37
      [3.330362, 4.225539[: 35
      [4.225539, 5.120717[: 37
      [5.120717, 6.015895[: 21
      [6.015895, 6.911073[: 18
      [6.911073, 7.806250[: 11
      [7.806250, 8.701428[: 8
      [8.701428, 9.596606]: 10
    Percentiles (10%):
      720 triangles in [0.644829, 0.931708]
      720 triangles in [0.931708, 1.017388]
      720 triangles in [1.017388, 1.096717]
      720 triangles in [1.096717, 1.173627]
      720 triangles in [1.173627, 1.265768]
      720 triangles in [1.265768, 1.367499]
      720 triangles in [1.367499, 1.473311]
      720 triangles in [1.473311, 1.605096]
      720 triangles in [1.605096, 1.788979]
      720 triangles in [1.788979, 9.002288]
      8 triangles in [9.002288, 9.596606]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 230
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'right', 'bottom', 'left']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00490999, 0.02104604], steps=120 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00488622, 0.00548481], steps=194 (0)

Using the Windows mesh

Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 7210
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.629728, 9.479879]
    number of distinct areas: 7210
    Histogram:
      [0.629728, 1.514743[: 5259
      [1.514743, 2.399758[: 1773
      [2.399758, 3.284773[: 40
      [3.284773, 4.169788[: 38
      [4.169788, 5.054803[: 37
      [5.054803, 5.939819[: 16
      [5.939819, 6.824834[: 21
      [6.824834, 7.709849[: 9
      [7.709849, 8.594864[: 10
      [8.594864, 9.479879]: 7
    Percentiles (10%):
      721 triangles in [0.629728, 0.938614]
      721 triangles in [0.938614, 1.023260]
      721 triangles in [1.023260, 1.099714]
      721 triangles in [1.099714, 1.180817]
      721 triangles in [1.180817, 1.270424]
      721 triangles in [1.270424, 1.373040]
      721 triangles in [1.373040, 1.479134]
      721 triangles in [1.479134, 1.602771]
      721 triangles in [1.602771, 1.780142]
      721 triangles in [1.780142, 9.479879]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 232
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'right', 'bottom', 'left']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00046156, 0.02104604], steps=947 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00040646, 0.00047853], steps=2306 (0)

Can you investigate

1: Why this is? 2: If there is a way of avoiding the mesh condition that creates the degenerate timestepping (194 steps/s to 2306 steps/s)?

This problem was produced in changeset:4725

Ta Ole

Change History (6)

comment:1 Changed 17 years ago by ole

  • Description modified (diff)

comment:2 Changed 17 years ago by duncan

  • Resolution set to worksforme
  • Status changed from new to closed

Ticket #34 notes that there is a difference between the output from triangle for different OS's. I cannot find the tests it mentions though.

I couldn't replicate the differences specified in this ticket.

I ran this on my windows xp box, changeset:4725 and got the following result;

X:\anuga_work\development\demos>python island.py
------------------------------------------------
Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 7208
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.644829, 9.596606]
    number of distinct areas: 7208
    Histogram:
      [0.644829, 1.540006[: 5421
      [1.540006, 2.435184[: 1610
      [2.435184, 3.330362[: 37
      [3.330362, 4.225539[: 35
      [4.225539, 5.120717[: 37
      [5.120717, 6.015895[: 21
      [6.015895, 6.911073[: 18
      [6.911073, 7.806250[: 11
      [7.806250, 8.701428[: 8
      [8.701428, 9.596606]: 10
    Percentiles (10%):
      720 triangles in [0.644829, 0.931708]
      720 triangles in [0.931708, 1.017388]
      720 triangles in [1.017388, 1.096717]
      720 triangles in [1.096717, 1.173627]
      720 triangles in [1.173627, 1.265768]
      720 triangles in [1.265768, 1.367499]
      720 triangles in [1.367499, 1.473311]
      720 triangles in [1.473311, 1.605096]
      720 triangles in [1.605096, 1.788979]
      720 triangles in [1.788979, 9.002288]
      8 triangles in [9.002288, 9.596606]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 230
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'right', 'bottom', 'left']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00490999, 0.02104604], steps=120 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00488622, 0.00548481], steps=194 (0)

I got the same result using my Linux box.

comment:3 Changed 17 years ago by duncan

  • Resolution worksforme deleted
  • Status changed from closed to reopened

comment:4 Changed 17 years ago by duncan

  • Owner changed from duncan to Nick
  • Status changed from reopened to new

Hi Nick, Could you run this on your Windows box and linux box and see what results you get.

comment:5 Changed 17 years ago by duncan

  • Resolution set to wontfix
  • Status changed from new to closed

I fixed the code, so running island.py ran the mesh generator and got the different meshes for different os's.

Why is this? 'triangle' is the mesh gen code, as as ticket #34 noted, the results from different os's is not the same.

I changed the maximum_triangle_area from 2 to 2.1 and got these results in windows;

X:\anuga_work\development\demos>python island.py
Generating mesh to file "island.tsh"
Constructing Delaunay triangulation by divide-and-conquer method.
Recovering segments in Delaunay triangulation.
Removing unwanted triangles.
Spreading regional attributes and area constraints.
Adding Steiner points to enforce quality.

Writing vertices.
Writing triangles.
Writing segments.
Writing neighbors.

Statistics:

  Input vertices: 8
  Input segments: 8
  Input holes: 0

  Mesh vertices: 3515
  Mesh triangles: 6804
  Mesh edges: 10318
  Mesh exterior boundary edges: 224
  Mesh interior boundary edges: 71
  Mesh subsegments (constrained edges): 295

------------------------------------------------
Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 6804
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.706040, 9.961472]
    number of distinct areas: 6804
    Histogram:
      [0.706040, 1.631583[: 5106
      [1.631583, 2.557126[: 1521
      [2.557126, 3.482670[: 45
      [3.482670, 4.408213[: 37
      [4.408213, 5.333756[: 24
      [5.333756, 6.259299[: 34
      [6.259299, 7.184842[: 12
      [7.184842, 8.110385[: 7
      [8.110385, 9.035928[: 8
      [9.035928, 9.961472]: 10
    Percentiles (10%):
      680 triangles in [0.706040, 0.987090]
      680 triangles in [0.987090, 1.081477]
      680 triangles in [1.081477, 1.170691]
      680 triangles in [1.170691, 1.255268]
      680 triangles in [1.255268, 1.354013]
      680 triangles in [1.354013, 1.451399]
      680 triangles in [1.451399, 1.568303]
      680 triangles in [1.568303, 1.697416]
      680 triangles in [1.697416, 1.873541]
      680 triangles in [1.873541, 9.503874]
      4 triangles in [9.503874, 9.961472]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 224
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'left', 'right', 'bottom']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00635619, 0.02178911], steps=99 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00631652, 0.00699387], steps=150 (0)

I changed the maximum_triangle_area to 1.01 and got these results on windows;

X:\anuga_work\development\demos>python island.py
Generating mesh to file "island.tsh"
self.mode pzq28.0aanAa
Constructing Delaunay triangulation by divide-and-conquer method.
Recovering segments in Delaunay triangulation.
Removing unwanted triangles.
Spreading regional attributes and area constraints.
Adding Steiner points to enforce quality.

Writing vertices.
Writing triangles.
Writing segments.
Writing neighbors.

Statistics:

  Input vertices: 8
  Input segments: 8
  Input holes: 0

  Mesh vertices: 7233
  Mesh triangles: 14208
  Mesh edges: 21440
  Mesh exterior boundary edges: 256
  Mesh interior boundary edges: 105
  Mesh subsegments (constrained edges): 361

------------------------------------------------
Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 14208
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.266045, 9.848374]
    number of distinct areas: 14208
    Histogram:
      [0.266045, 1.224278[: 13958
      [1.224278, 2.182511[: 97
      [2.182511, 3.140744[: 39
      [3.140744, 4.098977[: 24
      [4.098977, 5.057209[: 37
      [5.057209, 6.015442[: 15
      [6.015442, 6.973675[: 18
      [6.973675, 7.931908[: 4
      [7.931908, 8.890141[: 9
      [8.890141, 9.848374]: 7
    Percentiles (10%):
      1420 triangles in [0.266045, 0.472471]
      1420 triangles in [0.472471, 0.512533]
      1420 triangles in [0.512533, 0.551147]
      1420 triangles in [0.551147, 0.589756]
      1420 triangles in [0.589756, 0.633956]
      1420 triangles in [0.633956, 0.684702]
      1420 triangles in [0.684702, 0.739388]
      1420 triangles in [0.739388, 0.807238]
      1420 triangles in [0.807238, 0.890087]
      1420 triangles in [0.890087, 8.756090]
      8 triangles in [8.756090, 9.848374]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 256
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'right', 'bottom', 'left']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00307226, 0.01453896], steps=220 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00416887, 0.00767447], steps=178 (0)

and these results in Linux;

Generating mesh to file "island.tsh"
self.mode pzq28.0aanAa
Constructing Delaunay triangulation by divide-and-conquer method.
Recovering segments in Delaunay triangulation.
Removing unwanted triangles.
Spreading regional attributes and area constraints.
Adding Steiner points to enforce quality.

Writing vertices.
Writing triangles.
Writing segments.
Writing neighbors.

Statistics:

  Input vertices: 8
  Input segments: 8
  Input holes: 0

  Mesh vertices: 7235
  Mesh triangles: 14211
  Mesh edges: 21445
  Mesh exterior boundary edges: 257
  Mesh interior boundary edges: 108
  Mesh subsegments (constrained edges): 365

------------------------------------------------
Mesh statistics:
  Number of triangles = 14211
  Extent [m]:
    x in [0.000000, 100.000000]
    y in [0.000000, 100.000000]
  Areas [m^2]:
    A in [0.266045, 9.851605]
    number of distinct areas: 14211
    Histogram:
      [0.266045, 1.224601[: 13966
      [1.224601, 2.183157[: 89
      [2.183157, 3.141713[: 37
      [3.141713, 4.100269[: 25
      [4.100269, 5.058825[: 34
      [5.058825, 6.017381[: 19
      [6.017381, 6.975937[: 21
      [6.975937, 7.934493[: 10
      [7.934493, 8.893049[: 5
      [8.893049, 9.851605]: 5
    Percentiles (10%):
      1421 triangles in [0.266045, 0.472536]
      1421 triangles in [0.472536, 0.511012]
      1421 triangles in [0.511012, 0.550546]
      1421 triangles in [0.550546, 0.590495]
      1421 triangles in [0.590495, 0.633956]
      1421 triangles in [0.633956, 0.681650]
      1421 triangles in [0.681650, 0.735879]
      1421 triangles in [0.735879, 0.804128]
      1421 triangles in [0.804128, 0.892741]
      1421 triangles in [0.892741, 9.851605]
      1 triangles in [9.851605, 9.851605]
  Boundary:
    Number of boundary segments == 257
    Boundary tags == ['top', 'bottom', 'right', 'left']
------------------------------------------------

Time = 0.0000, steps=0 (0)
Time = 1.0000, delta t in [0.00168977, 0.01405944], steps=454 (0)
Time = 2.0000, delta t in [0.00153936, 0.00182543], steps=612 (0)

For these parameters Linux takes longer.

So it seems that the small differences in the meshes produced by generating the mesh in different operating systems results in significantly different time steps for the island simulation. Note that the island simulation was put together to investigate unrealistic behaviour.

I have sent an email to the creater of triangle to see if he knows why different OS's result in different meshes.

comment:6 Changed 16 years ago by duncan

email from Jonathan, the creater of triangle

I’ve noticed that it produces different meshes if it runs on linux or Windows.

Do you know why this is, and if this will be fixed/changed in the

future?

Duncan,

I'm guessing that this is because of the difference in the ways the two compilers handle floating point operations. For instance, one compiler might use a fused mutliply-add instruction where another doesn't. This can perturb the positions of the newly inserted vertices, thereby changing the final mesh.

If my diagnosis is correct, I doubt that this can be "fixed" efficiently. I think you'd have to use a floating-point emulator to make sure the floating-point arithmetic always comes out exactly the same regardless of the compiler or operating system. That would be very very slow.

Jonathan

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