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Computational Science, Engineering & Technology Series
ISSN 1759-3158
CSETS: 2
PARALLEL AND DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING FOR COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS: SYSTEMS AND TOOLS
Edited by: B.H.V. Topping
Chapter 8

Issues and Strategies in the Parallelisation of Unstructured Multiphysics Codes

K. McManus, M. Cross, S. Johnson and P.F. Leggett

University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom

Full Bibliographic Reference for this chapter
K. McManus, M. Cross, S. Johnson, P.F. Leggett, "Issues and Strategies in the Parallelisation of Unstructured Multiphysics Codes", in B.H.V. Topping, (Editor), "Parallel and Distributed Processing for Computational Mechanics: Systems and Tools", Saxe-Coburg Publications, Stirlingshire, UK, Chapter 8, pp 158-179, 1999. doi:10.4203/csets.2.8
Abstract
Unstructured mesh based codes for the modelling of continuum physics phenomena have evolved to provide the facility to model complex interacting systems. Such codes have the potential to provide a high performance on parallel platforms for a small investment in programming. The critical parameters for success are to minimise changes to the code to allow for maintenance while providing high parallel efficiency, scalability to large numbers of processors and portability to a wide range of platforms. The paradigm of domain decomposition with message passing has for some time been demonstrated to provide a high level of efficiency, scalability and portability across shared and distributed memory systems without the need to re-author the code into a new language. This paper addresses these issues in the parallelisation of a complex three dimensional unstructured mesh Finite Volume multiphysics code and discusses the implications of automating the parallelisation process.

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