[Libmesh-devel] Compatibility-breaking change going into CVS

[Roy S. <roy...@ic...>]

This message should only apply to people using:

BERNSTEIN elements with p > 2
CLOUGH elements
HIERARCHIC elements with p > 2
SZABAB elements with p > 2

Currently, we choose an arbitrary orientation for certain basis
functions by examining the relative global node numbering of the nodes
on the appropriate element edge or face.

I would like to change that procedure, so that instead we choose basis
orientations based on the relative locations of those nodes.  The
advantage is that this will enable more optimizations in the FE class
(cutting as much as 30% off the runtime of one of my application
codes).  The disadvantage is that if anyone has any saved solution
.xda files using these elements, those solutions will become corrupted
in future libMesh versions.

If anyone has such saved solution files that they can't bear to part
with or recalculate, email me and I'll try and work out a way to get
them converted.  If not (and oh, I'm hoping there's not), then just
smile and look forward to your code running a little faster with
libMesh 0.6.0.
---
Roy Stogner