Docs: Add STL Union Workflow

Docs/source/usage/workflows.rst

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ This section collects typical user workflows and best practices for WarpX.
    workflows/generate_lookup_tables_with_tools
    workflows/plot_timestep_duration
    workflows/psatd_stencil
+   workflows/stl_geometry_preparation
    workflows/archiving
    workflows/ml_dataset_training
    workflows/optimas

Docs/source/usage/workflows/stl_geometry_preparation.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+.. _workflows-stl-geometry-preparation:
+
+STL Geometry Preparation for WarpX
+==================================
+
+WarpX has the ability to define the embedded boundary (EB) in a simulation using externally provided STL (STereoLithography) files.
+STL files are a common format for representing 3D geometries and can be used to define complex embedded boundaries in WarpX simulations, without having to define extensive EB implicit functions.
+However, there are some limitations to using STL files which must be resolved, including:
+
+1. Multiple STL files representing different parts of a device must be combined into a single file
+2. The STL geometry is "watertight" (The STL file shouldn't have duplicate faces or vertices, overlapping vertices should be merged, and there shouldn't be any gaps or holes in the mesh)
+3. The STL file is properly formatted for WarpX input
+
+.. 2. The STL file shouldn't have duplicate faces or vertices, and overlapping vertices should be merged. (issues with vertices can cause the MLMG solver to crash)
+
+Step 1: Combining Multiple STL Files
+------------------------------------
+
+If your device consists of multiple parts stored in separate STL files, you'll need to combine them into a single STL file.
+
+Using MeshLab
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+`MeshLab <https://www.meshlab.net/>`__ is a free, open-source tool for processing 3D meshes:
+
+1. Open MeshLab
+2. Import the first STL file: ``File -> Import Mesh``
+3. Import additional STL files: ``File -> Import Mesh`` (repeat for each file)
+4. All parts should now be visible in the same scene
+5. Create a union of the two parts, either by ``Filters -> Remeshing, Simplification and Reconstruction -> Mesh Boolean: Union``
+   or by right-clicking on one of the parts in the Layer Dialog panel on the right and clicking ``Mesh Boolean: Union``
+6. Select the union and export the combined mesh: ``File -> Export Mesh As``
+7. Choose STL format and save
+
+Using Python with trimesh
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+You can also use Python with the `trimesh <https://github.com/mikedh/trimesh>`__ library:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   import trimesh
+
+   # Load individual STL files
+   mesh1 = trimesh.load('part1.stl')
+   mesh2 = trimesh.load('part2.stl')
+
+   # Combine meshes
+   combined = trimesh.util.concatenate([mesh1, mesh2])
+
+   # Export combined mesh
+   combined.export('device_combined.stl')
+
+Step 2: Making the Geometry Watertight and Removing and Merging Duplicate Faces and Vertices
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+WarpX requires that STL geometries be "watertight" (manifold), meaning the mesh has no holes, gaps, or open edges.
+This ensures that WarpX can properly determine which regions are inside or outside the geometry.
+STL files that have overlapping or duplicate faces and vertices can cause the MLMG solver to crash, while a non-manifold file can be inherently leaky for Poynting flux in an EM simulation.
+These issues with the mesh might happen while exporting the STL file from a CAD program (such as SolidWorks)
+
+Using MeshLab
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+To check and repair a mesh in MeshLab:
+
+1. **Check for issues:**
+
+   * ``Filters -> Quality Measure and Computations -> Compute Topological Measures``
+   * Look for holes in the output
+   * Look for non-manifold edges and vertices in the output
+
+2. **Repair the mesh:**
+
+   * When loading in the mesh, there is an option to ``Unify Duplicated Vertices in STL files``, this will perform the next steps automatically, but gives the user less control.
+   * ``Filters -> Cleaning and Repairing -> Remove Duplicate Faces``
+   * ``Filters -> Cleaning and Repairing -> Remove Duplicate Vertices``
+   * ``Filters -> Cleaning and Repairing -> Merge Close Vertices``
+
+      * This filter gives the user an option to set an absolute or relative tolerance on the distance between the vertices to merge.
+
+   .. * ``Filters -> Cleaning and Repairing -> Remove Zero Area Faces``
+   .. * ``Filters -> Remeshing, Simplification and Reconstruction -> Close Holes``
+
+3. **Verify the mesh is watertight:**
+
+   * Run ``Filters -> Quality Measure and Computations -> Compute Topological Measures`` again
+   * Check that the mesh has no holes
+   * Check that the mesh is manifold (no warnings about non-manifold edges)
+
+      * An STL file with non-manifold edges won't necessarily crash a simulation, but may present other numerical issues.
+
+
+
+
+Step 3: Using STL Files in WarpX
+--------------------------------
+
+Once you have a single, watertight STL file, you can use it in WarpX by setting the following parameters in your input file:
+
+.. code-block:: text
+
+   # Specify that the embedded boundary comes from an STL file
+   eb2.geom_type = stl
+
+   # Path to your STL file
+   eb2.stl_file = path/to/device_watertight.stl
+
+You can also optionally set an electric potential on the embedded boundary:
+
+.. code-block:: text
+
+   # Define electric potential at the embedded boundary (optional)
+   warpx.eb_potential(x,y,z,t) = "voltage_function"
+
+For more details on embedded boundary parameters, see:
+
+* `Embedded Boundary Input Parameters <https://warpx.readthedocs.io/en/latest/usage/parameters.html#embedded-boundary-conditions:~:text=in%20this%20case.-,Embedded%20Boundary%20Conditions,-%EF%83%81>`__
+* `Embedded Boundary PICMI Input Parameters <https://warpx.readthedocs.io/en/latest/usage/python.html#pywarpx.picmi.EmbeddedBoundary:~:text=Custom%20class%20to,translated%20and%20inverted.>`__
+
+Tips and Best Practices
+-----------------------
+
+* *Units:* Ensure your STL file uses the same unit system as your WarpX simulation
+* *Scale:* If needed, scale your geometry in your CAD software or mesh editor before exporting
+* *Orientation:* Check that your geometry is properly oriented relative to WarpX's coordinate system
+* *Resolution:* The STL mesh resolution should be appropriate for your simulation - too coarse may miss important features, too fine may slow down initialization
+
+      * It's generally a good idea to simplify your geometery and remove features that are significantly smaller than the WarpX simulation grid
+
+* *Binary vs ASCII:* WarpX can read both binary and ASCII STL files, but binary files are typically smaller and faster to load
+
+
+Examples
+--------
+
+.. note::
+
+   **TODO**: WarpX does not yet have examples that use STL files for embedded boundaries.
+
+   Current embedded boundary examples in ``Examples/Tests/embedded_boundary_*`` use analytical
+   functions to define geometries. A complete example demonstrating STL file usage will be
+   added in the future.