Matina
Matina is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that was initially designed to create and manage ParaGeo material characterisations into databases with the capability for back-analysis experimental data sets. The initial concept was expanded to include pre and post processing capabilities, in particular the ability to quickly generate template based ParaGeo models with customisation, and also homogenisation of properties for upscaling; all of this with a dynamic help facility to guide the user at every workflow step.
Matina Tasks
Matina includes several customisations aimed at performing specific tasks. For example, creating and managing databases of material characterisations, processing and back-analysis of experimental tests, generating a geological column model, pore-scale analysis of thin section images, etc.
Dynamic Help
Matina has a strong educational element and has a dynamic help facility that displays the relevant information for actions/workflow steps. In addition, the workflow task descriptions guide the user through the various tasks.
Material Database
The Material Database module allows characterisation of materials with visual aids. The database management tools include, copy/paste/move materials between different databases, export of materials or databases, creation of ParaGeo .mat files, etc. The material characterisations can be later validated using the Matina experimental back-analysis functionality.
Experimental Data
The Experimental Data module allows import, processing and property identification using graphical interaction tools. A Microsoft Word format report can be automatically generated. The processed data can be later assigned to a validation model to back analyse the experiment and validate the corresponding material characterisation.
Validation
The Validation Module aims to provide a quick and convenient way to calibrate and validate material properties. A given material characterisation may be assigned to one or more validation templates that generate/run pre-set ParaGeo models to replicate the experimental conditions (e.g. triaxial and uniaxial tests). The predictions are automatically loaded and compared with the experiment data.
Homogenisation
The Homogenisation Module may be used to homogenise and upscale material properties from micro-scale (properties for individual grains and voids) to laboratory-scale. The functionality includes generation of a meshed geometry from a colour coded thin sample image. Different homogenisation tests are available to upscale the properties (i.e. Uniaxial, Biaxial and Triaxial tests, Numerical Stiffness method, Range test, etc).
Geological Modelling
The Geological Module facilitates efficient generation of 1D column models for initial calibrations of material properties which are often a precursor to more CPU-intensive 2D or 3D models. The present-day stratigraphy, thicknesses and porosities are input and the decompacted thickness of the sediment are automatically calculated. After the simulation the results may be loaded and compared to the target (input) solution.
Customisable Model Templates
All the ParaGeo models generated within the different Matina modules are pre-defined in customisable templates. This offers the opportunity to expand the available model types to any scenario that can be parameterized. Addtionally, ParaGeo data files may be defined parametrically, allowing efficient modification of key design variables.