Performance of coupled parallel finite element analysis in grid computing environment

Abstract

Since coupled problem should be solved for multiphenomena, large computational resources are needed for the large scale coupled analysis. In this paper, we propose a coupled parallel finite element analysis method using wide-area distributed computational resources on the Internet. In order for PC clusters located in different places to carry out a coupled parallel finite element analysis, a PC cluster receives the data needed for the coupled analysis from the other through the Internet. To perform the computing efficiently, processes for coupled parallel analysis are allocated based on the estimation of the coupled parallel analysis time taking account of available computer resources and network performance. Parallel finite element analysis of electromagnetic and structural coupled problem was carried out using two PC clusters to discuss the validity of this analysis method and computing environment. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008.