PDE2D features a graphical user interface (GUI), and an interactive user interface, which make it exceptionally easy to use, and extensive graphical output capabilities. A Galerkin finite element method, with isoparametric triangular elements of up to 4th degree, is available for 2D problems, and a collocation finite element method, with cubic Hermite basis functions, is used for 3D problems. For 1D and 2D problems, both Galerkin and collocation algorithms are available. Adaptive refinement and grading of the triangular mesh are available for 2D problems.

A PDE2D program is created by the GUI, or the Interactive Driver, and all documentation, including examples, is available on-line. All the user has to do is answer a series of questions about the region, partial differential equations and boundary conditions, and select solution method and graphical output options. The Interactive Driver or GUI automatically writes a FORTRAN program, based on the user's answers, which is then compiled and linked to the PDE2D library routines it calls. However, the user does NOT need to be a FORTRAN programmer to use PDE2D ; for most problems, he/she only needs to know how to write basic FORTRAN expressions such as X*Y+Z. Neverthess, the PDE2D user has all the flexibility of FORTRAN at his/her disposal; for example, any PDE or boundary condition coefficient can be defined by a user-written FORTRAN function subprogram, and it is very easy to add calls to user-supplied subroutines to plot or otherwise postprocess the PDE2D solution. In fact, PDE2D now automatically outputs the solution to a MATLAB m-file, from which you have easy access to all of MATLAB's graphical abilities.

Download the Interactive Driver (Demo) here.

The GUI can only be used to access the PDE2D collocation methods, so if you have a complex 2D region you must use the Interactive Driver. But for 0D and 1D problems, and for problems in a wide range of simple 2D and 3D regions, you can set up your problem using the GUI in an exceptionally short amount of time.

Download the Graphical User Interface here .

There are five versions of PDE2D available:

• A UNIX version (click here for the order form), which is distributed in portable Fortran90 source code form, and thus will run on virtually any UNIX system with a Fortran90 compiler. For this version, the only additional software you will need is a Fortran90 compiler and a GKS library of lower level plotting routines. GKS-standard libraries are available at no cost (click here ) for almost all UNIX workstations, plus MAC OSX and Linux.

  The UNIX version is the only one which will run efficiently on multiprocessor machines, under MPI: there are MPI calls commented out which are activated by removing all occurrences of "C#" in the source. The UNIX version is available only through an annual lease, which includes updates, maintenance and consulting.

• Windows/Intel Fortran 11.1 (32 and 64 bit versions)
• Windows/Lahey LF90 4.5. The LF90 compiler can be bundled with PDE2D by agreement with Lahey, Inc.
• Linux/GNU g77 and gfortran (32 and 64 bit versions)
• Solaris/GNU g77

Current customers or prospects are encouraged to go to the VNI Forum to submit technical questions about PDE2D. Granville Sewell will review questions posted there daily.

PDE2D (Linux or Windows version) will be provided at no cost to instructors who use the new textbook "The Numerical Solution of Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations, second edition" as a required text for a course. Click here for the order form for the free copy.

The author of PDE2D, Granville Sewell, has written 3 numerical analysis books, and has been working continuously on this program for over 30 years.