A novel parallel finite element procedure for nonlinear dynamic problems using GPU and mixed-precision algorithm

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 2193-2211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengquan Wang ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yong Cai ◽  
Guangyao Li

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to improve the computational speed of solving nonlinear dynamics by using parallel methods and mixed-precision algorithm on graphic processing units (GPUs). The computational efficiency of traditional central processing units (CPUs)-based computer aided engineering software has been difficult to satisfy the needs of scientific research and practical engineering, especially for nonlinear dynamic problems. Besides, when calculations are performed on GPUs, double-precision operations are slower than single-precision operations. So this paper implemented mixed precision for nonlinear dynamic problem simulation using Belytschko-Tsay (BT) shell element on GPU. Design/methodology/approach To minimize data transfer between heterogeneous architectures, the parallel computation of the fully explicit finite element (FE) calculation is realized using a vectorized thread-level parallelism algorithm. An asynchronous data transmission strategy and a novel dependency relationship link-based method, for efficiently solving parallel explicit shell element equations, are used to improve the GPU utilization ratio. Finally, this paper implements mixed precision for nonlinear dynamic problems simulation using the BT shell element on a GPU and compare it to the CPU-based serially executed program and a GPU-based double-precision parallel computing program. Findings For a car body model containing approximately 5.3 million degrees of freedom, the computational speed is improved 25 times over CPU sequential computation, and approximately 10% over double-precision parallel computing method. The accuracy error of the mixed-precision computation is small and can satisfy the requirements of practical engineering problems. Originality/value This paper realized a novel FE parallel computing procedure for nonlinear dynamic problems using mixed-precision algorithm on CPU-GPU platform. Compared with the CPU serial program, the program implemented in this article obtains a 25 times acceleration ratio when calculating the model of 883,168 elements, which greatly improves the calculation speed for solving nonlinear dynamic problems.

Author(s):  
Yasuhito Takahashi ◽  
Koji Fujiwara ◽  
Takeshi Iwashita ◽  
Hiroshi Nakashima

Purpose This paper aims to propose a parallel-in-space-time finite-element method (FEM) for transient motor starting analyses. Although the domain decomposition method (DDM) is suitable for solving large-scale problems and the parallel-in-time (PinT) integration method such as Parareal and time domain parallel FEM (TDPFEM) is effective for problems with a large number of time steps, their parallel performances get saturated as the number of processes increases. To overcome the difficulty, the hybrid approach in which both the DDM and PinT integration methods are used is investigated in a highly parallel computing environment. Design/methodology/approach First, the parallel performances of the DDM, Parareal and TDPFEM were compared because the scalability of these methods in highly parallel computation has not been deeply discussed. Then, the combination of the DDM and Parareal was investigated as a parallel-in-space-time FEM. The effectiveness of the developed method was demonstrated in transient starting analyses of induction motors. Findings The combination of Parareal with the DDM can improve the parallel performance in the case where the parallel performance of the DDM, TDPFEM or Parareal is saturated in highly parallel computation. In the case where the number of unknowns is large and the number of available processes is limited, the use of DDM is the most effective from the standpoint of computational cost. Originality/value This paper newly develops the parallel-in-space-time FEM and demonstrates its effectiveness in nonlinear magnetoquasistatic field analyses of electric machines. This finding is significantly important because a new direction of parallel computing techniques and great potential for its further development are clarified.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71-78 ◽  
pp. 3489-3494
Author(s):  
Yao Jie Guo ◽  
De Wei Zeng ◽  
Yan Zhou Chen

Tests and the finite element method (FEM) have been used to research the mechanical behavior of floor beams in the new cold-formed steel framing system. A group of 3 floor beams have been carried loading test to obtain ultimate bearing capacity, then finite element models, using plastic shell element and simultaneous considering material and geometric nonlinearity in ANSYS, have been established to analyze the mechanical behavior of floor beams. Finally, the ultimate uniform loads are given for the various specifications of floor beams, for practical engineering design.


Author(s):  
Kevin Darques ◽  
Abdelmounaïm Tounzi ◽  
Yvonnick Le-menach ◽  
Karim Beddek

Purpose This paper aims to go deeper on the analysis of the shaft voltage of large turbogenerators. The main interest of this study is the investigation process developed. Design/methodology/approach The analysis of the shaft voltage because of several defects is based on a two-dimensional (2D) finite element modeling. This 2D finite element model is used to determine the shaft voltage because of eccentricities or rotor short-circuit. Findings Dynamic eccentricities and rotor short circuit do not have an inherent impact on the shaft voltage. Circulating currents in the stator winding because of defects impact the shaft voltage. Originality/value The original value of this paper is the investigation process developed. This study proposes to quantify the impact of a smooth stator and then to explore the contribution of the real stator winding on the shaft voltage.


Author(s):  
Dieter Weichert ◽  
Abdelkader Hachemi

The special interest in lower bound shakedown analysis is that it provides, at least in principle, safe operating conditions for sensitive structures or structural elements under fluctuating thermo-mechanical loading as to be found in power- and process engineering. In this paper achievements obtained over the last years to introduce more sophisticated material models into the framework of shakedown analysis are developed. Also new algorithms will be presented that allow using the addressed numerical methods as post-processor for commercial finite element codes. Examples from practical engineering will illustrate the potential of the methodology.


2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 2100-2119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Johari ◽  
Jaber Rezvani Pour ◽  
Akbar Javadi

Purpose – Liquefaction of soils is defined as significant reduction in shear strength and stiffness due to increase in pore water pressure. This phenomenon can occur in static (monotonic) or dynamic loading patterns. However, in each pattern, the inherent variability of the soil parameters indicates that this problem is of a probabilistic nature rather than being deterministic. The purpose of this paper is to present a method, based on random finite element method, for reliability assessment of static liquefaction of saturated loose sand under monotonic loading. Design/methodology/approach – The random finite element analysis is used for reliability assessment of static liquefaction of saturated loose sand under monotonic loading. The soil behavior is modeled by an elasto-plastic effective stress constitutive model. Independent soil parameters including saturated unit weight, peak friction angle and initial plastic shear modulus are selected as stochastic parameters which are modeled using a truncated normal probability density function (pdf). Findings – The probability of liquefaction is assessed by pdf of modified pore pressure ratio at each depth. For this purpose pore pressure ratio is modified for monotonic loading of soil. It is shown that the saturated unit weight is the most effective parameter, within the selected stochastic parameters, influencing the static soil liquefaction. Originality/value – This research focuses on the reliability analysis of static liquefaction potential of sandy soils. Three independent soil parameters including saturated unit weight, peak friction angle and initial plastic shear modulus are considered as stochastic input parameters. A computer model, coded in MATLAB, is developed for the random finite element analysis. For modeling of the soil behavior, a specific elasto-plastic effective stress constitutive model (UBCSAND) was used.


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