The same finite element models (in other words: the same input files) can be run either with **fossils** or with [Metafor](http://metafor.ltas.ulg.ac.be/).
**Metafor** is a in-house finite element code dedicated to the simulation of nonlinear thermomechanical problems including large strains, large displacements, contact, complex material behaviours, etc). It has been developped for the last 30 years in the laboratory of Jean-Philippe Ponthot at the University of Liège.
Obviously, **Metafor** is also able to solve linear-statics problems like **fossils** does. Today Metafor solutions are compared to simple linear-statics codes such as **fossils**. Tomorrow, Metafor will be used to enhance the current models with non-linearities (contact, heterogeneous nonlinear materials, large displacements, nonlinear loads, etc.).
As an example, here is a tentative simulation of a bite senario where the boundary conditions have been slightly improved: a tooth is not randomly chosen and fixed along a fixed direction as it is usually done to model the contact with the food. Instead of this traditionnal approach, the food is modelled as a cylinder and contact is simulated between the food and the teeth.
### Getting the software
Contrary to **fossils**, Metafor is not an open source program and it is not freely available on the internet. However it can be easily obtained for research purpose by sending an e-mail to r.boman@uliege.be.
### Running the simulations with Metafor
Copy this repository to your harddrive either by downloading a zip file or by using git:
