Abelian Sandpile
Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld model — self-organized criticality
Parameters
Grid size
81
Drop rate (grains/step)
1
Steps per frame
10
Reset Grid
Single Avalanche
Pause
Abelian Sandpile Model:
Each cell holds 0–3 grains. When a cell reaches 4, it topples: loses 4 grains, each neighbor gains 1. Border grains fall off.
The system self-organizes to a critical state where avalanche sizes follow a
power law
— no characteristic scale.
The identity element of the sandpile group produces beautiful fractal patterns.
0
1
2
3
Grains added:
0
Topplings:
0
Last avalanche:
0
Max avalanche:
0