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zhongliliu / elastool

A toolkit for automatic calculation and analysis of elastic constants
GNU General Public License v3.0
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ElasTool

ElasTool (Elastic Analysis and Simulation Toolkit for Optimized Observations and Learning) is a powerful and innovative Python-based toolkit optimized for computing the second-order elastic constants (SOECs) and mechanical properties of crystal systems across different dimensions, including 3D structures, 2D materials, nanoribbons, coaxially rolled 2D-based van der Waals nanostructures, and 1D nanotubes. It harnesses first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics, making it ideal for analyzing both zero-temperature and finite-temperature conditions.

About ElasTool

ElasTool offers a flexible approach to determining elastic constants and mechanical properties of various materials at zero and finite temperatures and pressures, providing a broad scope of utility across different material conditions. It seamlessly integrates with the VASP electronic structure code. However, its architecture is open and can easily implement interfaces to other DFT packages. If you are interested in such extensions, please don't hesitate to contact the authors for further guidance and support with the ElasTool source code. The software utilizes three kinds of strain-matrix sets: High-Efficiency Strain-Matrix Sets (OHESS), Universal Linear-Independent Coupling Strains (ULICS), and All-Single-Element Strain-Matrix Sets (ASESS) [1], enabling automatic and efficient calculation of the SOECs.

Key Features

The ElasTool toolkit offers several features, including:

Expanded Capabilities

ElasTool offers a comprehensive range of features for analyzing various material properties:

The Christoffel equations have been integrated into our approach for calculating wave velocities, power factors, and enhancement factors. This integration is based on the methodology described in Christoffel. The feature is turned on once plotparameters is set to yes in the ElasTool input file elastol.in. For 2D materials, we implemented an embedding method to visualize the properties in a three-dimensional plane. Specifically, the solution of the Christoffel equations generates the following output files:

3.4) Visualization

Upon enabling the plot feature, ElasTool generates Gnuplot scripts for automatic plotting of key features. These are saved as high-resolution PNG files in the property_plots folder. Due to the volume of files produced, enabling plot features in high-throughput settings is not recommended unless necessary. Alternatively, the post-processing mode (run_mode=3) can be used for plot generation for specific materials. For outputs related to the Christoffel equation solution, the following file naming conventions are important:

These features establish ElasTool as a versatile and indispensable toolkit for scientists and engineers specializing in materials science and engineering. Its comprehensive computational capabilities are ideal for advanced material science research, providing critical insights into the mechanical and thermal properties of various materials. Whether for academic research, industrial applications, or innovative material design, ElasTool serves as a pivotal resource in exploring and understanding the intricate behavior of 3D structures, 2D materials, and nanoscale systems.

ElasTool: Advanced Data Visualization and Analysis Toolkit

ElasTool is a highly efficient computational tool designed for calculating and visualizing the elastic, mechanical, and related properties of materials in 1D, 2D, and 3D systems. It stands out with its advanced visualization capabilities, offering insightful and enriching user experiences. The visualization capabilities in ElasTool are designed to enhance user engagement, provide deeper insights into material properties, and facilitate the efficient presentation of complex data. Whether for academic research, material design, or engineering applications, these features make ElasTool a valuable asset in the field of material science.

Advanced Visualization Capabilities

ElasTool is not just a computational toolkit; it's also a powerful visualization platform, enabling:

Post-Processing Capabilities

The postprocessing is for generating the plots for visualizing the elastic and mechanical properties of materials after a complete stress-strain calculation has been carried out. The massdensity_dim.dat and the elastic_tensor.dat files are only needed if you're using elastic tensor parameters from other electronic structure codes or besides the ones you have obtained. To utilize ElasTool's post-processing features:

  1. Set up the massdensity_dim.dat and elastic_tensor.dat files as described.
  2. Use the following terminal commands (case insensitive): 
    elastool -pp
elastool -Postprocess
elastool -postprocess
elastool -POSTPROCESS
  3. For interactive web plots with Plotly, add -plotly: 
    elastool -pp -plotly
elastool -Postprocess -plotly
elastool -postprocess -plotly
elastool -POSTPROCESS -plotly

Automated Plotting and Visualization

ElasTool excels in:

Interactive Interface

Flexibility in Usage

Seamless Integration with Elate

You can also use ElasTool for post-processing visualization using the Elate web interface. After completing stress-strain calculations, users can seamlessly integrate ElasTool with Elate.

These features enhance the user experience by simplifying the analysis process and providing intuitive, accessible data visualizations directly from ElasTool's interface.

Installation

ElasTool offers straightforward installation options suitable for various user preferences. These methods ensure a hassle-free setup, allowing you to commence your material science investigations with ElasTool promptly. Detailed instructions can be found in the INSTALL file, but here are the general methods:

  1. Using pip:

    • Quickly install ElasTool with pip by executing: 
      pip install -U elastool

  2. From Source Code:

    • Alternatively, download the source code with: 
      git clone [git@github.com:zhongliliu/elastool.git]
    • Then, install ElasTool by navigating to the master directory and running: 
      pip install .

  3. Installation via setup.py:

    • As an alternative, ElasTool can be installed using the setup.py script: 
      python setup.py install [--prefix=/path/to/install/]
    • The optional --prefix argument is useful for installations in environments like shared High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, where administrative privileges might be restricted.
    • Please note that while this method remains supported, its usage is gradually declining in favor of more modern installation practices. It is recommended primarily for specific scenarios where standard installation methods like pip are not applicable.

Usage and Running ElasTool

Learning to use ElasTool is made easy with the provided examples in the example folder. Here are the key steps for using ElasTool effectively:

  1. Create a Calculation Directory:

    • Start by creating a directory for your calculations.
    • Run elastool -0 to generate basic template input files (INCARs, KPOINTS, and elastool.in).

  2. Modify Input Files:

    • Customize the generated files according to your project's requirements.

  3. Initialize the Job:

    • Execute elastool to begin the calculation process.

  4. Understanding ElasTool Options:

    • The main input file elastool.in includes descriptive text for each flag, making it user-friendly.
    • For additional help or to explore more features, use elastool -h or elastool -help.

This streamlined process allows users to quickly start and efficiently conduct their material analysis with ElasTool.

Citing ElasTool

If you have used ElasTool in your research, please, consider citing the appropriate publications from the list below:

Main ElasTool Implementation

@article{Liu2020elastool, title = {ElasTool: An automated toolkit for elastic constants calculation}, journal = {Computer Physics Communications}, volume = {270}, pages = {108180}, year = {2022}, issn = {0010-4655}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2021.108180}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010465521002927}, author = {Zhong-Li Liu and C.E. Ekuma and Wei-Qi Li and Jian-Qun Yang and Xing-Ji Li} }

@article{Kastuar2022efficient, title={Efficient prediction of temperature-dependent elastic and mechanical properties of 2D materials}, author={Kastuar, SM and Ekuma, CE and Liu, Z-L}, journal={Scientific Reports}, volume={12}, number={1}, pages={3776}, year={2022}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-07819-8}, publisher={Nature Publishing Group UK London} }

@article{Ekuma2024, title = {ElasTool v3.0: Efficient computational and visualization toolkit for elastic and mechanical properties of materials}, journal = {Computer Physics Communications}, volume = {300}, pages = {109161}, year = {2024}, doi = {10.1016/j.cpc.2024.109161}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010465524000845?via%3Dihub}, author = {Chinedu E. Ekuma and Zhong-Li Liu } }

Work Related to 2D Materials

Work Related to Tubular 2D-Based Nanostructures and Nanotubes, and Advanced Visualization

OHESS Method and Strain-Stress Methods

Related Works

Contact Information

We welcome your interest in extending ElasTool's capabilities and are happy to assist with integrating it with other electronic structure codes. If you have queries about ElasTool, need help using it, or wish to share suggestions for its improvement, please reach out to us. Our team is dedicated to supporting your work and enhancing ElasTool's functionality.

Feel free to contact us via email:

Your feedback and questions are invaluable to us, and we look forward to hearing from you.