E! 6951 Numerical non-linear simulations adapted to GPU technology (GEPEU)

ENGELSK VERSJON: The project shall take advantage of the vast computational resources of GPUs in a new non-linear finite element code, the IMPETUS Afea Solver. The performance in terms of speed and accuracy is monitored and documented by a Verifier syste m developed in the project. This system provides both for version control and includes a database of industrial validation tests in order to establish user confidence. NORSK VERSJON: Prosjektet skal utnytte regnekapasiteten til grafikkort (GPU) i en n y ikke-lineær elementmetodekode, IMPETUS Afea Solver. Prosjektet utvikler en egen software - Verifier - for å monitorere nøyaktighet og beregningshastighet og automatisk dokumentasjon av disse. Systemet gir versjonskontroll og inkulderer også en database med industrielle valideringstester.

The project shall take advantage of the vast computational capacity of GPUs (Graphic Processing Units) in a novel software for non-linear finite element (FE) simulations. It will focus on developing platforms for running the software on a single GPU as we ll as multi GPUs. This capability is expected to give the software superior performance compared to using traditional High Performing Computing (HPC), which is based on using large data clusters based on CPU microprocessors. Further advantages are that th e GPU technology will reduce both the hardware costs and power consumption, which is kinder to both the pocket and the environment. Today, industry relies heavily on numerical tools for efficient product development and documentation. In this regard accu racy, user-friendliness, industrial robustness and high computational speed are key elements which have to be considered for our product. Our aim is to develop a new non-linear simulation tool for mechanical and multi-physics problems with unsurpassed a ccuracy, user-friendliness and industrial robustness, adapted near-100% to the latest GPU hardware technology. The new simulation tool will be based on 1) novel algorithms used for solving the fundamental mechanical equations and 2) adaptation of the cod e to GPU hardware technology, which is a new technology for high computational speed. No commercial finite element codes exist today dedicated to GPU technology. This is partly because GPU technology requires the use of a special programming language and a careful methodology in order to maximise performance. For this reason it is difficult to take existing codes consisting of millions of lines and adapt them to GPU technology. In our approach we start from scratch and construct a new code especially ada pted to GPU technology.