Object-Oriented Approach to Finite Element Modeling on Clusters

Abstract

This paper presents a concept and implementation of an object-oriented software environment for the parallel finite element modeling on networks (clusters) of workstations. This environment is an extension of the sequential NuscaS software, previously developed at the Technical University of Czestochowa. The domain decomposition technique and iterative methods of solving large sparse linear systems are used to develop the parallel kernel of the environment. The application of the object-oriented approach allows mechanisms supporting parallelism to be transparent for developers of new application modules. The performance results obtained for the simulation of solidification of castings are promising, and indicate that a significant reduction in runtime can be achieved for suficiently large meshes.