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A data‐parallel approach to multiblock flow computations
Author(s) -
Sawley M. L.,
Tegnér J. K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in fluids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1097-0363
pISSN - 0271-2091
DOI - 10.1002/fld.1650190806
Subject(s) - computer science , massively parallel , software portability , block (permutation group theory) , computation , parallel computing , computational science , compressible flow , parallel processing , flow (mathematics) , convergence (economics) , algorithm , compressibility , mathematics , geometry , economic growth , engineering , economics , programming language , aerospace engineering
Multiblock methods are often employed to compute flows in complex geometries. While such methods lend themselves in a natural way to coarse‐grain parallel processing by the distribution of different blocks to different processors, in some situations a fine‐grain data‐parallel implementation may be more appropriate. A study is presented of the resolution of the Euler equations for compressible flow on a block‐structured mesh, illustrating the advantages of the data‐parallel approach. Particular emphasis is placed on a dynamic block management strategy that allows computations to be undertaken only for blocks where useful work is to be performed. In addition, appropriate choices of initial and boundary conditions that enchance solution convergence are presented. Finally, code portability between five different massively parallel computer systems is examined and an analysis of the performance results obtained on different parallel systems is presented.