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At least 271 records · Page 15

Computational mechanics analysis tools for parallel-vector supercomputers

Computational algorithms for structural analysis on parallel-vector supercomputers are reviewed. These parallel algorithms, developed by the authors, are for the assembly of structural equations, 'out-of-core' strategies for linear equation solution, massively distributed-memory equation solution, unsymmetric equation solution, general eigen-solution, geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis, design sensitivity analysis for structural dynamics, optimization algorithm and domain decomposition. The source code for many of these algorithms is available from NASA Langley.

Storaasli, O. O.

Options for Parallelizing a Planning and Scheduling Algorithm

Space missions have a growing interest in putting multi-core processors onboard spacecraft. For many missions processing power significantly slows operations. We investigate how continual planning and scheduling algorithms can exploit multi-core processing and outline different potential design decisions for a parallelized planning architecture. This organization of choices and challenges helps us with an initial design for parallelizing the CASPER planning system for a mesh multi-core processor. This work extends that presented at another workshop with some preliminary results.

parallel algorithms

NETRA: A parallel architecture for integrated vision systems 2: Algorithms and performance evaluation

In part 1 architecture of NETRA is presented. A performance evaluation of NETRA using several common vision algorithms is also presented. Performance of algorithms when they are mapped on one cluster is described. It is shown that SIMD, MIMD, and systolic algorithms can be easily mapped onto processor clusters, and almost linear speedups are possible. For some algorithms, analytical performance results are compared with implementation performance results. It is observed that the analysis is very accurate. Performance analysis of parallel algorithms when mapped across clusters is presented. Mappings across clusters illustrate the importance and use of shared as well as distributed memory in achieving high performance. The parameters for evaluation are derived from the characteristics of the parallel algorithms, and these parameters are used to evaluate the alternative communication strategies in NETRA. Furthermore, the effect of communication interference from other processors in the system on the execution of an algorithm is studied. Using the analysis, performance of many algorithms with different characteristics is presented. It is observed that if communication speeds are matched with the computation speeds, good speedups are possible when algorithms are mapped across clusters.

Choudhary, Alok N.

Adding GPU Support to the Markov Chain Monte Carlo Code Catmip

In geophysics, we are confronted with many under-determined inverse problems. For example, all of our observations of earthquakes are made at the Earth’s surface. So, when we try to infer how slip during an earthquake evolves in space and time, we find that there are many potential slip histories that are consistent with our limited observations and our understanding of earthquake physics. One way to approach these problems is with Bayesian analysis which allows us to infer the ensemble of all potential slip models that satisfy the observations and our prior knowledge of earthquake physics. In Bayesian analysis, our prior knowledge is known as the prior probability density function or prior PDF, the fit to the data is known as the data likelihood, and the target PDF that satisfies both the prior PDF and data likelihood is known as the posterior PDF. However, simulating the posterior PDF typically requires using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to draw tens of billions of random realizations of earthquake slip models, which may not be computationally feasible. To make this and similar geophysical inversions computationally tractable, we developed the Cascading Adaptive Transitional Metropolis In Parallel (CATMIP) algorithm. CATMIP is an efficient parallel Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampler that is used for model fitting and uncertainty quantification in geophysics. Example use cases are earthquake rupture modeling, determining mineral composition on Mars, reconstructing the history of ocean salinity, and historical earthquake relocation. CATMIP employs many parallel instances of the Metropolis algorithm for sampling in a transitioning framework. Transitioning is a process in which a set of random samples at equilibrium with a known probability density function (PDF) are used as seeds for the Markov chains to sample successive target PDFs that incrementally move the distribution from the starting seeds to the final desired PDF that describes the relative plausibility of potential values for the model parameters. The algorithm is implemented as a Master-Worker model employing MPI for communication. The worker processes are loosely coupled with global parameters periodically optimized by the master process. This provides a very high amount of parallelism with little communication between updates. During the presentation we will discuss the history of the algorithm and elaborate the earthquake rupture modeling use case for the CATMIP package. Our first step toward GPU optimization was to optimize the code for the CPU. CPU profiling revealed that most of the compute time is spent in calls to level 2 BLAS routines and calls to GSL random number generators. We revised the algorithm to employ level 3 BLAS routines instead. In our presentation we will describe how this was accomplished. Adding GPU support to CATMIP consisted mostly of replacing the calls to GSL with calls to GPU vendor-provided library routines. A small number of loops were directly implemented in CUDA. In the presentation will provide implementation details. Finally, we will discuss methods for profiling and opportunities for further optimizing GPU execution. By creating a code with the flexibility to run on either a CPU or GPU architecture, CATMIP can be used on systems ranging from large CPU-based HPC environments to single servers with GPU acceleration and everything in between.

HECC

Parallel Processing of Broad-Band PPM Signals

A parallel-processing algorithm and a hardware architecture to implement the algorithm have been devised for timeslot synchronization in the reception of pulse-position-modulated (PPM) optical or radio signals. As in the cases of some prior algorithms and architectures for parallel, discrete-time, digital processing of signals other than PPM, an incoming broadband signal is divided into multiple parallel narrower-band signals by means of sub-sampling and filtering. The number of parallel streams is chosen so that the frequency content of the narrower-band signals is low enough to enable processing by relatively-low speed complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) electronic circuitry. The algorithm and architecture are intended to satisfy requirements for time-varying time-slot synchronization and post-detection filtering, with correction of timing errors independent of estimation of timing errors. They are also intended to afford flexibility for dynamic reconfiguration and upgrading. The architecture is implemented in a reconfigurable CMOS processor in the form of a field-programmable gate array. The algorithm and its hardware implementation incorporate three separate time-varying filter banks for three distinct functions: correction of sub-sample timing errors, post-detection filtering, and post-detection estimation of timing errors. The design of the filter bank for correction of timing errors, the method of estimating timing errors, and the design of a feedback-loop filter are governed by a host of parameters, the most critical one, with regard to processing very broadband signals with CMOS hardware, being the number of parallel streams (equivalently, the rate-reduction parameter).

Gray, Andrew

A computational fluid dynamics algorithm on a massively parallel computer

The implementation and performance of a finite-difference algorithm for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in two or three dimensions on the Connection Machine are described. This machine is a single-instruction multiple-data machine with up to 65536 physical processors. The implicit portion of the algorithm is of particular interest. Running times and megadrop rates are given for two- and three-dimensional problems. Included are comparisons with the standard codes on a Cray X-MP/48.

Jespersen, Dennis C.

Simultaneous iterations algorithm for general eigenvalue problems on parallel processors

The method of simultaneous iteration with shift is extended to extraction of m-eigenpairs of a general eigenvalue problem of large order n in a parallel processing environment. The algorithm combines the power method and the Jacobi technique, and reduces to performing four basic operations. Parallel implementation of the algorithm is discussed in detail. The analysis accounts for computation and communication costs, and utilizes a parallel processing architecture of the ensemble type. Expressions for the computational efficiency and speedup are defined as a function of the problem and hardware parameters. Selected representative problems exhibit efficiencies ranging from 60 to 98 percent.

Utku, S.

A scalable multidimensional fully implicit solver for Hall magnetohydrodynamics

We propose an optimally performant fully implicit algorithm for the Hall magnetohydrodynamics (HMHD) equations based on multigrid-preconditioned Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov methods. HMHD is a challenging system to solve numerically because it supports stiff fast dispersive waves. The preconditioner is formulated using an operator-split approximate block factorization (Schur complement), informed by physics insight. We use a vector-potential formulation (instead of a magnetic field one) to allow a clean segregation of the problematic $\nabla$ x $\nabla$ x operator in the electron Ohm's law subsystem. This segregation allows the formulation of an effective damped block-Jacobi smoother for multigrid. We demonstrate by analysis that our proposed block-Jacobi iteration is convergent and has the smoothing property. The resulting HMHD solver is verified linearly with wave propagation examples, and nonlinearly with the GEM challenge reconnection problem by comparison against another HMHD code. We demonstrate the excellent algorithmic and parallel performance of the algorithm up to 16384 MPI tasks in two dimensions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC

Experimental Parallel-Processing Computer

Master processor supervises slave processors, each with its own memory. Computer with parallel processing serves as inexpensive tool for experimentation with parallel mathematical algorithms. Speed enhancement obtained depends on both nature of problem and structure of algorithm used. In parallel-processing architecture, "bank select" and control signals determine which one, if any, of N slave processor memories accessible to master processor at any given moment. When so selected, slave memory operates as part of master computer memory. When not selected, slave memory operates independently of main memory. Slave processors communicate with each other via input/output bus.

Mcgregor, J. W.

Parallel image compression

A parallel compression algorithm for the 16,384 processor MPP machine was developed. The serial version of the algorithm can be viewed as a combination of on-line dynamic lossless test compression techniques (which employ simple learning strategies) and vector quantization. These concepts are described. How these concepts are combined to form a new strategy for performing dynamic on-line lossy compression is discussed. Finally, the implementation of this algorithm in a massively parallel fashion on the MPP is discussed.

Reif, John H.

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Algorithm on a Massively Parallel Computer

The discipline of computational fluid dynamics is demanding ever-increasing computational power to deal with complex fluid flow problems. We investigate the performance of a finite-difference computational fluid dynamics algorithm on a massively parallel computer, the Connection Machine. Of special interest is an implicit time-stepping algorithm; to obtain maximum performance from the Connection Machine, it is necessary to use a nonstandard algorithm to solve the linear systems that arise in the implicit algorithm. We find that the Connection Machine ran achieve very high computation rates on both explicit and implicit algorithms. The performance of the Connection Machine puts it in the same class as today's most powerful conventional supercomputers.

Jespersen, Dennis C.

Parallel rendering

This article provides a broad introduction to the subject of parallel rendering, encompassing both hardware and software systems. The focus is on the underlying concepts and the issues which arise in the design of parallel rendering algorithms and systems. We examine the different types of parallelism and how they can be applied in rendering applications. Concepts from parallel computing, such as data decomposition, task granularity, scalability, and load balancing, are considered in relation to the rendering problem. We also explore concepts from computer graphics, such as coherence and projection, which have a significant impact on the structure of parallel rendering algorithms. Our survey covers a number of practical considerations as well, including the choice of architectural platform, communication and memory requirements, and the problem of image assembly and display. We illustrate the discussion with numerous examples from the parallel rendering literature, representing most of the principal rendering methods currently used in computer graphics.

Crockett, Thomas W.

Computational Issues in Damping Identification for Large Scale Problems

Two damping identification methods are tested for efficiency in large-scale applications. One is an iterative routine, and the other a least squares method. Numerical simulations have been performed on multiple degree-of-freedom models to test the effectiveness of the algorithm and the usefulness of parallel computation for the problems. High Performance Fortran is used to parallelize the algorithm. Tests were performed using the IBM-SP2 at NASA Ames Research Center. The least squares method tested incurs high communication costs, which reduces the benefit of high performance computing. This method's memory requirement grows at a very rapid rate meaning that larger problems can quickly exceed available computer memory. The iterative method's memory requirement grows at a much slower pace and is able to handle problems with 500+ degrees of freedom on a single processor. This method benefits from parallelization, and significant speedup can he seen for problems of 100+ degrees-of-freedom.

Pilkey, Deborah L.

Parallel Newton-Krylov-Schwarz algorithms for the transonic full potential equation

We study parallel two-level overlapping Schwarz algorithms for solving nonlinear finite element problems, in particular, for the full potential equation of aerodynamics discretized in two dimensions with bilinear elements. The overall algorithm, Newton-Krylov-Schwarz (NKS), employs an inexact finite-difference Newton method and a Krylov space iterative method, with a two-level overlapping Schwarz method as a preconditioner. We demonstrate that NKS, combined with a density upwinding continuation strategy for problems with weak shocks, is robust and, economical for this class of mixed elliptic-hyperbolic nonlinear partial differential equations, with proper specification of several parameters. We study upwinding parameters, inner convergence tolerance, coarse grid density, subdomain overlap, and the level of fill-in in the incomplete factorization, and report their effect on numerical convergence rate, overall execution time, and parallel efficiency on a distributed-memory parallel computer.

Cai, Xiao-Chuan

Globalized Newton-Krylov-Schwarz Algorithms and Software for Parallel Implicit CFD

Implicit solution methods are important in applications modeled by PDEs with disparate temporal and spatial scales. Because such applications require high resolution with reasonable turnaround, "routine" parallelization is essential. The pseudo-transient matrix-free Newton-Krylov-Schwarz (Psi-NKS) algorithmic framework is presented as an answer. We show that, for the classical problem of three-dimensional transonic Euler flow about an M6 wing, Psi-NKS can simultaneously deliver: globalized, asymptotically rapid convergence through adaptive pseudo- transient continuation and Newton's method-, reasonable parallelizability for an implicit method through deferred synchronization and favorable communication-to-computation scaling in the Krylov linear solver; and high per- processor performance through attention to distributed memory and cache locality, especially through the Schwarz preconditioner. Two discouraging features of Psi-NKS methods are their sensitivity to the coding of the underlying PDE discretization and the large number of parameters that must be selected to govern convergence. We therefore distill several recommendations from our experience and from our reading of the literature on various algorithmic components of Psi-NKS, and we describe a freely available, MPI-based portable parallel software implementation of the solver employed here.

Gropp, W. D.

Parallelization of the Pipelined Thomas Algorithm

In this study the following questions are addressed. Is it possible to improve the parallelization efficiency of the Thomas algorithm? How should the Thomas algorithm be formulated in order to get solved lines that are used as data for other computational tasks while processors are idle? To answer these questions, two-step pipelined algorithms (PAs) are introduced formally. It is shown that the idle processor time is invariant with respect to the order of backward and forward steps in PAs starting from one outermost processor. The advantage of PAs starting from two outermost processors is small. Versions of the pipelined Thomas algorithms considered here fall into the category of PAs. These results show that the parallelization efficiency of the Thomas algorithm cannot be improved directly. However, the processor idle time can be used if some data has been computed by the time processors become idle. To achieve this goal the Immediate Backward pipelined Thomas Algorithm (IB-PTA) is developed in this article. The backward step is computed immediately after the forward step has been completed for the first portion of lines. This enables the completion of the Thomas algorithm for some of these lines before processors become idle. An algorithm for generating a static processor schedule recursively is developed. This schedule is used to switch between forward and backward computations and to control communications between processors. The advantage of the IB-PTA over the basic PTA is the presence of solved lines, which are available for other computations, by the time processors become idle.

Povitsky, A.

Experiments with a Parallel Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for Scheduling

Evolutionary multi-objective algorithms have great potential for scheduling in those situations where tradeoffs among competing objectives represent a key requirement. One challenge, however, is runtime performance, as a consequence of evolving not just a single schedule, but an entire population, while attempting to sample the Pareto frontier as accurately and uniformly as possible. The growing availability of multi-core processors in end user workstations, and even laptops, has raised the question of the extent to which such hardware can be used to speed up evolutionary algorithms. In this paper we report on early experiments in parallelizing a Generalized Differential Evolution (GDE) algorithm for scheduling long-range activities on NASA's Deep Space Network. Initial results show that significant speedups can be achieved, but that performance does not necessarily improve as more cores are utilized. We describe our preliminary results and some initial suggestions from parallelizing the GDE algorithm. Directions for future work are outlined.

scheduling

A Parallel Incompressible Navier-Stokes Solver With a Parallel Multigrid Elliptic Kernal

The paper describes numerical algorithms and parallel implementations of a time-dependent, incompressible Navier-Stokes flow solver and a multigrid elliptic solver, which is also used as a computation kernal in the flow solver. The implemented solvers are numerically stable and computationally efficient, and they scale well to a large number of processors for problems with moderate granularity.

solver Navier-Stokes solver multigrid elliptic sol