  We present preliminary results from recent high-resolution double-degenerate
merger simulations with the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) technique. We
put particular emphasis on verification and validation in our effort and show
the importance of details in the initial condition setup for the final outcome
of the simulation. We also stress the dynamical importance of including shocks
in the simulations. These results represent a first step toward a suite of
simulations that will shed light on the question whether double-degenerate
mergers are a viable path toward type 1a supernovae. In future simulations, we
will make use of the capabilities of the NuGrid collaboration in
post-processing SPH particle trajectories with a complete nuclear network to
follow the detailed nuclear reactions during the dynamic merger phase.
