Elastica++: A high-performance, multiphysics framework for large interacting assemblies of Cosserat rods

2026-05-13

AI Summary

Existing computational tools struggle to simultaneously achieve high-fidelity dynamics of slender elastic rods, scalability to large ensembles, and flexibility in multiphysics coupling. This work presents the first open-source simulation framework based on Cosserat rod theory that integrates high fidelity, massive scalability, and multiphysics versatility. By leveraging high-performance core algorithms, shared-memory parallelization, efficient discretization schemes, and interoperable interfaces to external solvers, the framework attains teraflop-scale computational throughput. Its robustness and broad applicability are demonstrated across diverse scenarios—including nematic metamaterials, active matter collectives, ciliary arrays, soft magnetic microrobots, and schooling fish—thereby filling a critical gap in high-throughput studies of emergent behaviors in complex filamentous elastic systems.

Abstract

Soft, slender structures are ubiquitous in natural and engineered systems, with broad application potential from biomimetic materials to soft robotics. However, there is a notable lack of computational tools that simultaneously preserve high-fidelity continuum rod mechanics, scale to large interacting ensembles, and remain flexible across diverse biophysical settings. Here we introduce Elastica++, an open-source, high-performance implementation of the Cosserat-rod model for large-scale simulations of slender-body dynamics. Elastica++ combines performance-oriented kernels with shared-memory parallelism to sustain teraflop-scale throughput despite complex discretization domains and physical interactions. The framework further interoperates with external numerical solvers, supporting efficient multiphysics workflows. We demonstrate robustness and breadth through case studies spanning passive nest-like metamaterials, collective active-matter dynamics, cilia carpets, soft magnetic microrobots, and schooling swimmers. Elastica++ thus provides a missing foundation for high-throughput studies of emergent behavior in interacting assemblies of elastic slender structures.

Problem

• Cosserat rods
• slender-body dynamics
• multiphysics simulation
• large interacting assemblies
• computational framework

Innovation

• Cosserat rods
• high-performance computing
• multiphysics simulation
• shared-memory parallelism
• slender-body dynamics