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Kanapy

What Kanapy is
Kanapy is a free Python package for generating three-dimensional synthetic polycrystalline microstructures from statistical grain and phase morphology data plus crystallographic texture information. It analyzes experimental EBSD maps, reconstructs crystallographic texture from measured orientations and misorientation distributions, and supports multiphase structures with explicitly defined matrix and dispersed phases. A hexahedral mesh generator represents complex microstructures as voxels for finite-element simulations. Kanapy can create spherical particle position and radius files for Neper, input files for Abaqus and other finite-element packages, and voxel structures exchanged through the modular materials data schema. Users access it through a Python API and command-line tools; the alpha-version GUI remains under development. Installation is documented through conda-forge or pip in a Python environment. Listed dependencies include NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, orix, NetworkX, and scikit-image. Texture functions additionally require MATLAB and MTEX installed separately. Linux, macOS, and Windows are supported; Linux and macOS require a working C/C++ compiler, while Windows uses a pre-built wheel. The project targets research and industry microstructure generation.
Who it suits
Kanapy suits researchers and engineers generating synthetic microstructures for finite-element simulations and related research or industry work. It fits users comfortable with Python, command-line tools, and the listed scientific dependencies.
What it does well
- Generates three-dimensional synthetic polycrystalline microstructures
- Analyzes EBSD morphology and crystallographic texture
- Supports explicitly defined matrix and dispersed phases
- Exports files for Neper and Abaqus workflows
- Provides Python API and command-line access
What to know first
- Alpha GUI is still under development
- Texture module requires MATLAB and MTEX separately
- Linux and macOS require a C/C++ compiler
- Depends on several scientific Python packages
Verdict
Kanapy provides an open package for statistically and experimentally informed microstructure generation, analysis, and meshing. Its integrations and platform support are useful, but setup involves scientific dependencies and compiler requirements.
Facts from Kanapy's own pages
- Abaqus integration
- Kanapy can generate input files for Abaqus. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Access
- Kanapy provides a Python API and command-line tools; its alpha-version GUI is still under development. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Analysis
- Kanapy analyzes experimental EBSD maps for microstructure morphology and texture. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Data exchange
- Kanapy imports and exports voxel structures using the modular materials data schema. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Dependencies
- The listed dependencies include NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, orix, NetworkX, and scikit-image. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · mrgprasad.github.io, 24 Sept 2026
- Grain modeling
- Kanapy reconstructs orientation distribution functions from experimental orientations and assigns orientations based on measured misorientation distributions. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project documents installation through conda-forge or pip in a Python environment. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Kanapy can produce particle position and radius files for Neper and input files for finite-element packages. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- It is designed to generate synthetic microstructures for finite element simulations and research and industry use. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes its goal as building a synthetic microstructure generation tool for research and industry use. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Interface
- The documentation describes a command line interface for Kanapy. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- Kanapy is made available under the GNU AGPLv3 license. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Mesh generation
- It includes a hexahedral mesh generator for complex polycrystalline microstructures. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Multiphase support
- Kanapy supports multiphase microstructures, including explicitly defined matrix and dispersed phases. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Neper integration
- Kanapy can generate spherical particle position and radius files that Neper can read. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Performance implementation
- The geometry module’s performance-critical component is implemented in C++ and accessed through Python bindings. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Platform access
- desktop · mrgprasad.github.io, 24 Sept 2026
- Platform requirements
- The documentation describes Linux, macOS, and Windows support; Linux and macOS require a working C/C++ compiler, while Windows installation uses a pre-built wheel. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kanapy is a Python package for generating complex synthetic polycrystalline microstructures. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Texture dependencies
- The texture module uses MATLAB and MTEX, which the documentation says must be installed separately. · mrgprasad.github.io, 12 Oct 2026
- Texture features
- Kanapy reconstructs crystallographic texture from experimental orientations and assigns orientations based on measured misorientation distributions. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Kanapy stands on Freedom251
- 3D modeling software#88 of 147