JuliaFEM.jl/docs/TEST_FIXES_NEEDED.md

Test Fixes Needed

Date: November 8, 2025
Status: 5 passing, 49 failing (infrastructure now in place)

Summary

Tests are failing due to API evolution between Julia 0.6/1.0 (2018) and Julia 1.12 (2025), not fundamental architectural problems. Package loads successfully and core functionality works.

Main Issues

1. Missing aster_read_mesh (14 tests)

Problem: Tests use aster_read_mesh() from IO submodule, but it requires HDF5
Files affected: Most 3D elasticity tests, med file tests
Fix options:

• A) Add HDF5 as optional dependency (Julia 1.9+ package extensions)
• B) Skip tests that need .med files for now
• C) Convert test meshes to .inp format (ABAQUS, which we support)

Recommendation: Option C - convert test meshes to .inp format

2. eval_basis! Signature Mismatch (2 tests)

Problem: eval_basis!(::Type{Seg2}, ::Matrix, ::Tuple{Float64})
Current: eval_basis!(::Seg2, ::Vector, ::Tuple{Float64}, time::Float64)
Location: vendor/FEMBasis.jl

Fix: Update signature in FEMBasis or fix call sites

3. jacobian Signature Mismatch (~20 tests)

Problem: Tests call jacobian(element_type, X, xi) with old signatures
Current API: Different parameter order or types
Location: vendor/FEMBasis.jl/src/jacobian.jl

Fix: Consolidate FEMBasis into src/basis/ with modern API

4. allocate_buffer Missing (2 tests)

Problem: allocate_buffer(::Problem{Elasticity}, ::Vector{Element})
Status: Method doesn't exist in current codebase
Fix: Either restore method or update tests to not need it

5. Analysis Missing (5 tests) - ✅ FIXED

Status: Now exported, these tests should pass

6. Statistics Package Missing (1 test) - ✅ FIXED

Status: Now in test dependencies

Test Categories

✅ Passing (5 tests)

• Virtual work test
• Contact 2D/3D tests
• Mortar 2D tests
• Heat transfer (basic)

❌ Failing - Missing HDF5 (~14 tests)

• test_elasticity_2d_nonlinear_with_surface_load.jl
• test_elasticity_3d_unit_block.jl
• test_elasticity_med_pyr5_point_load.jl
• test_elasticity_plane_strain.jl
• test_elasticity_pyr5_point_load.jl
• Many more...

❌ Failing - API Mismatches (~30 tests)

• eval_basis! signature (2)
• jacobian signature (~20)
• allocate_buffer missing (2)
• Various others (6)

Action Plan

Phase 1: Low-Hanging Fruit (1-2 hours)

1. ✅ Export Analysis types
2. ✅ Add Statistics to test deps
3. ⏳ Skip/comment out HDF5-dependent tests temporarily
4. ⏳ Re-run tests, see how many pass

Phase 2: API Fixes (4-6 hours)

1. Fix eval_basis! signature in FEMBasis
2. Fix jacobian signature in FEMBasis
3. Either restore allocate_buffer or update tests
4. Fix any remaining signature mismatches

Phase 3: Mesh Conversion (2-4 hours)

1. Find all .med test meshes
2. Convert to .inp format using Code Aster or similar
3. Update test files to use .inp instead of .med
4. Re-run tests

Phase 4: Verify All Pass (1 hour)

1. Run full test suite
2. Fix any remaining issues
3. Update CI to run tests automatically
4. Celebrate! 🎉

Expected Outcome

After these fixes:

• ~40+ tests should pass (out of 56 total)
• CI will catch regressions automatically
• Good foundation for further consolidation work

Notes

The fact that package loads and 5 tests pass is actually very good news - it means the core architecture is sound. These are just API compatibility issues that accumulated over 6 years of Julia evolution.

Most fixes are mechanical (update signatures) rather than requiring deep understanding of the algorithms.