A GPU Solver for Wave Propagation in Anisotropic Media with Moment-Tensor Sources

Version 1.4 — September 2025

This repository contains a fast GPU elastodynamic solver for modeling wave propagation in 3D from earthquakes, explosions, collapses, and other seismic sources. The solver implements linear elasticity in anisotropic or isotropic media using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme on structured grids. Source terms include full moment tensors (DC, CLVD, ISO, etc.) and pressure sources. Single-GPU execution is done via CUDA C. Input generation, compilation, and postprocessing are handled in MATLAB.

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Features

• Physics: Linear elastic, isotropic or orthorhombic media
• Numerics: Staggered-grid FDTD, second-order accuracy
• Sources: Full moment tensor or pressure injection
• Boundaries: Simple PML absorbing layers
• Source time functions: Ricker wavelets
• Precision: Single or double
• Execution: Single GPU, fixed grid in device memory

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Workflow

• Interface: MATLAB-driven control
• Grid setup: Defined in vizme_FastBiotED_GPU3D_OK_2024_final.m
• Moment tensor modeling: Lune-based, direct tensor injection
• Compilation: CUDA code compiled from MATLAB via system call
• Execution: Platform-specific binary (a.out or .exe)
• Output: Binary files with seismograms and optional snapshots

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Usage

Input

Model parameters, grid configuration, and source specifications are defined and managed by the MATLAB script vizme_FastBiotED_GPU3D_OK_2024_final.m, which prepares inputs, compiles the CUDA kernel, executes the solver, and visualizes the output.

Output

Seismograms are written in binary format (e.g., *_Rec_y2.res) at user-specified receiver locations. Optional 3D field snapshots can also be saved. All outputs are read, processed, and visualized in MATLAB using built-in or user-defined routines.

Example usage

1. Open MATLAB and navigate to:

   FastWaveED_GPU3D_v1_DC_Earthquake_FULL_OK4_final/
   

2. Run the main script:

   vizme_FastBiotED_GPU3D_OK_2024_final

   This script performs the following:

   • Defines model parameters, source, and grid
   • Prepares input files for the solver
   • Compiles the CUDA kernel using nvcc, e.g.:

     nvcc -arch=sm_89 -O3 -DNBX=12 -DNBY=12 -DNZ=7 \
          -DOVERX=0 -DOVERY=0 -DOVERZ=0 \
          -DNPARS1=10 -DNPARS2=13 -DNPARS3=15 \
          FastWaveED_GPU3D_v1.cu

   • Launches the solver:
     • On Linux: a.out
     • On Windows: a.exe
   • Reads and visualizes output seismograms and snapshots in MATLAB

Platform note

On Linux, disable the block marked "THE FOLLOWING IS WINDOWS RELATED. SHOULD BE DISABLED WHEN COMPILING ON LINUX." (the vscprintf/vasprintf helpers). These functions size and allocate formatted strings from a va_list and are required only on Windows.

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Simulation Variants

The src/ directory contains different simulation setups, each representing a distinct source type, event configuration, or modeling test case. Naming follows the pattern FastWaveED_GPU3D_v1_<description>/. Key variants include:

• DC_Earthquake_FULL_OK4_final/ -- main earthquake simulation used in the paper
• Explosion/ -- explosion scenario with non-DC components
• Collapse/ -- collapse-type event with vertical tensile features
• 9km_station/ -- simulation with receiver at 9 km distance
• 16km_station/ -- simulation with receiver at 16 km distance
• 23km_station/ -- simulation with receiver at 23 km distance
• 9km_station_ANISO/ -- simulation with anisotropic media
• diff_BC/ -- test case with modified boundary conditions

See each folder's MATLAB script for parameters and geometry. Most are controlled via vizme_FastBiotED_GPU3D_OK_2024_final.m or its close variants.

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Requirements

Software:

• MATLAB (available from system PATH)
• CUDA Toolkit version 10.0 or newer

Hardware:

• NVIDIA GPU with compute capability ≥ 8.9

Tested on both Windows and Linux platforms.

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Citation

Please cite both the software and the paper if you use this code.

Software (APA) Alkhimenkov, Y. (2025). FastWaveED_GPU3D (Version 1.4) [Computer software]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17123262

BibTeX

@software{alkhimenkov_2025_17123262,
    author      = {Alkhimenkov, Yury},
    institution = {Massachusetts Institute of Technology},
    title       = {FastWaveED_GPU3D},
    month       = sep,
    year        = 2025,
    publisher   = {Zenodo},
    version     = {1.4},
    doi         = {10.5281/zenodo.17123262},
    note        = {Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17123262}
}

Paper (APA) Alvizuri, C., Alkhimenkov, Y., & Podladchikov, Y. (2025). Validating a GPU elastodynamic solver for anisotropic seismic wave propagation: application to a Swiss earthquake, explosion, and collapse sources. Geophysical Journal International (in preparation).

BibTeX

@article{Alvizuri2025GPUFMT,
    author  = {C. Alvizuri and Y. Alkhimenkov and Y. Podladchikov},
    title   = {{Validating a GPU elastodynamic solver for anisotropic seismic wave propagation: application to a Swiss earthquake, explosion, and collapse sources}},
    journal = {Geophysical Journal International (in prep.)},
    year    = {2025},
    volume  = {},
    number  = {},
    pages   = {},
    doi     = {}
}

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License

MIT License. See LICENSE file for full terms.