Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “linear solver”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17

Low Precision and Efficient Programming Languages for Sustainable AI: Final Report for the Summer Project of 2024

This document contains all relevant material generated during the authors' summer internship at NREL in 2024. This report shows how to improve energy efficiency of a few code samples by using low-precision data types combined with mixed-precision algorithms. The main applications considered here are (i) linear system solvers using mixed precision, and (ii) neural networks using mixed precision. This report also discusses how programming languages affect energy consumption of algorithms, energy metrics for a code and tools, and the available current software and hardware infrastructure.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

BPLU Completion and Verification Report

The Border Profile LU (BPLU) linear equation solver is the default solver for newer versions of RELAP5-3D. It can significantly reduce execution time compared to the previous default solver, MA18. Particularly for 3D cases, it can reduce run time by one to two orders of magnitude over MA18. However, because of some user reported failures, the MA18 solver currently must be used for coupled analyses. Over one dozen User Problems (UP) have been reported between 1999 and 2011 that involve the BPLU solver in RELAP5-3D. These issues can be combined into two categories of problems with the solver: • It fails when running multidimensional components with the nearly-implicit hydrodynamics advancement scheme. • It fails with some input models where the MA18 sparse solver does not fail. The sources of these UP have been found and corrected. The modified coding has been thoroughly tested with over 3000 test cases and on two different compute platforms. The updates are incorporated in RELAP5-3D, version 3.0.2.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

BPLU Completion and Verification Report

The Border Profile LU (BPLU) linear equation solver is the default solver for newer versions of RELAP5-3D. It can significantly reduce execution time compared to the previous default solver, MA18. Particularly for 3D cases, it can reduce run time by one to two orders of magnitude over MA18. However, because of some user reported failures, the MA18 solver currently must be used for coupled analyses. Over one dozen User Problems (UP) have been reported between 1999 and 2011 that involve the BPLU solver in RELAP5-3D. These issues can be combined into two categories of problems with the solver: (1) It fails when running multidimensional components with the nearly-implicit hydrodynamics advancement scheme. (2) It fails with some input models where the MA18 sparse solver does not fail. The sources of these UP have been found and corrected. The modified coding has been thoroughly tested with over 3000 test cases and on two different compute platforms. The updates are incorporated in RELAP5-3D, version 3.0.2.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Teko v. 1.0

Teko is a C++ library for implementation of blocked and segregated preconditioners in the context of iterative solvers for linear systems. Capabilities for decomposing larger matrices into user defined sub blocks are also provided. Additional functionality for creating approximate inverse operators utilizing solver and preconditioning packages in the Trilinos framework has also been implemented. Teko's primary application is in multiphysics simulation environment where a decomposition of the linear system in to physically meaningful blocks can be utilized to enhance performance of an iterative solver. However, applicability may extend to other problem domains where matrices can be decomposed into meaningful blocks.

Cyr, Eric↗

Teko v. 1.0

Teko is a C++ library for implementation of blocked and segregated preconditioners in the context of iterative solvers for linear systems. Capabilities for decomposing larger matrices into user defined sub blocks are also provided. Additional functionality for creating approximate inverse operators utilizing solver and preconditioning packages in the Trilinos framework has also been implemented. Teko's primary application is in multiphysics simulation environment where a decomposition of the linear system in to physically meaningful blocks can be utilized to enhance performance of an iterative solver. However, applicability may extend to other problem domains where matrices can be decomposed into meaningful blocks.

Cyr, Eric↗

Hardware acceleration for HPS algorithms in two and three dimensions

We provide a flexible, open-source framework for hardware acceleration, namely massively-parallel execution on general-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs), applied to the hierarchical Poincaré–Steklov (HPS) family of algorithms for building fast direct solvers for linear elliptic partial differential equations. To take full advantage of the power of hardware acceleration, we propose two variants of HPS algorithms to improve performance on two- and three-dimensional problems. In the two-dimensional setting, we introduce a novel recomputation strategy that minimizes costly data transfers to and from the GPU; in three dimensions, we modify and extend the adaptive discretization technique of Geldermans and Gillman [1] to greatly reduce peak memory usage. We provide an open-source implementation of these methods written in JAX, a high-level accelerated linear algebra package, which allows for the first integration of a high-order fast direct solver with automatic differentiation tools. We conclude with extensive numerical examples showing our methods are fast and accurate on two- and three-dimensional problems.

Fast direct solvers↗

A Tutorial for Using an Open-Source Solver for the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) Model

ReEDS is a publicly available model developed at NREL that can be used to analyze the potential evolution of the U.S. electric power system into the future. ReEDS is formulated as a linear program, written in GAMS, and solved using a linear programming solver (e.g., CPLEX). This tutorial provides context and understanding for the implications of using an open-source solver for ReEDS.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Solving linear equations with messenger-field and conjugate gradient techniques: An application to CMB data analysis

We discuss linear system solvers invoking a messenger-field and compare them with (preconditioned) conjugate gradient approaches. We show that the messenger-field techniques correspond to fixed point iterations of an appropriately preconditioned initial system of linear equations. We then argue that a conjugate gradient solver applied to the same preconditioned system, or equivalently a preconditioned conjugate gradient solver using the same preconditioner and applied to the original system, will in general ensure at least a comparable and typically better performance in terms of the number of iterations to convergence and time-to-solution. We illustrate our conclusions with two common examples drawn from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) data analysis: Wiener filtering and map-making. In addition, and contrary to the standard lore in the CMB field, we show that the performance of the preconditioned conjugate gradient solver can depend significantly on the starting vector. In conclusion, this observation seems of particular importance in the cases of map-making of high signal-to-noise ratio sky maps and therefore should be of relevance for the next generation of CMB experiments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Overcoming element quality dependence of finite elements with adaptive extended stencil FEM (AES‐FEM)

Summary The finite element methods (FEMs) are important techniques in engineering for solving partial differential equations, but they depend heavily on element shape quality for stability and good performance. In this paper, we introduce the Adaptive Extended Stencil Finite Element Method (AES‐FEM) as a means for overcoming this dependence on element shape quality. Our method replaces the traditional basis functions with a set of generalized Lagrange polynomial basis functions , which we construct using local weighted least‐squares approximations. The method preserves the theoretical framework of FEM and allows imposing essential boundary conditions and integrating the stiffness matrix in the same way as the classical FEM. In addition, AES‐FEM can use higher‐degree polynomial basis functions than the classical FEM, while virtually preserving the sparsity pattern of the stiffness matrix. We describe the formulation and implementation of AES‐FEM and analyze its consistency and stability. We present numerical experiments in both 2D and 3D for the Poisson equation and a time‐independent convection–diffusion equation. The numerical results demonstrate that AES‐FEM is more accurate than linear FEM, is also more efficient than linear FEM in terms of error versus runtime, and enables much better stability and faster convergence of iterative solvers than linear FEM over poor‐quality meshes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Conley, Rebecca↗

A Multiple-Set Overlapping-Domain Decomposed Monte Carlo Synthetic Acceleration Method for Linear Systems

We present a multiple-set overlapping-domain decomposed strategy for parallelizing the Monte Carlo Synthetic Acceleration method. Monte Carlo Synthetic Acceleration methods use the Neumann-Ulam class of Monte Carlo solvers for linear systems to accelerate a fixed-point iteration sequence. Effective parallel algorithms for these methods require the parallelization of the underlying Neumann-Ulam solvers. To do this in a domain decomposed environment, we borrow strategies traditionally implemented in Monte Carlo particle transport to parallelize the problem. The parallel Neumann-Ulam and multiple-set overlapping-domain decomposition algorithms are presented along with parallel scaling data for the resulting implementation using the Titan Cray XK7 machine at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Computer Science↗

kynema-fmb [SWR-23-07]

Kynema-FMB (FKA: Kynema) is an open-source performance portable flexible multibody (FMB) dynamics solver designed for time-domain simulations. While originally tailored for wind turbine structural dynamics, the formulation and implementation are those of a general flexible-multidbody dynamics solver that can readily be applied to a wide range of systems. Kynema was designed with a narrow focus, namely to provide a lightweight, fast, accurate FMD solver for coupling to computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) codes, especially the CFD codes in the Kynema suite, for fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) simulations. Kynema-FMB is equipped to model systems that can be represented as a collection of beams and rigid bodies that are connected through constraints. Degrees of freedom are defined in the inertial/global frame of reference and include displacements and rotations (formally as rotation matrices, but stored as quaternions). The underlying formulation is built on a Lie-group time integrator designed for index-3 differential-algebraic equations, which is second-order accurate in time (Bruls et al., 2012). Beam models are based on geometrically exact beam theory and are discretized as high-order spectral finite elements similar to those in BeamDyn (Wang et al., 2017). The governing equations for a FMD system like a wind turbine constitute a highly nonlinear system of constrained partial-differential equations. Kynema-FMB uses analytical Jacobians in the nonlinear-system solves in each time step. Linear systems use sparse storage and several third-party sparse-linear-system solvers are enabled. Ill conditioning of linear systems is mitigated with preconditioning described in Bottasso et al, 2008. Kynema-FMB is integrated with a simple open-source controller (ROSCO). There is an application programming interface (API) for coupling to geometry-resolved CFD (like that in Sharma et al., 2023) and actuator-force CFD (like that in Kuhn et al., 2025). In the latter, for actuator-line models, Kynema-FMB includes an internal blade-element solver that depends on user-provided lookup tables for coefficients of lift and drag, i.e., aerodynamic polars. Kynema-FMB is written in C++ and leverages Kokkos and Kokkos-Kernels (KokkosEcosystem) as its performance portability layer enabling simulations on both CPU and GPU systems. The repository is equipped with extensive automated testing at the unit and regression/system levels. The following describes the high-level development objectives conceived for Kynema: *Kynema will follow modern software development best practices, including test-driven development (TDD), version control, hierarchical automated testing, and continuous integration (CI) for a robust development environment. *The core data structures are memory efficient and enable vectorization and parallelization at multiple levels. *Data structures are data-oriented to exploit methods for accelerated computing including high utilization of chip resources (e.g., single instruction multiple data (SIMD) instruction sets) and parallelization using GP-GPUs. *The computational algorithms incorporate robust open-source libraries for mathematical operations, resource allocation, and data management. *The API design considers multiple stakeholder needs and ensure integration with existing and future ecosystems for data science, machine learning, and AI. *Kynema-FMB is written in modern C++ and leverages Kokkos as its performance-portability library with inspiration from the kynema stack.

Sprague, MichaelA.↗

A Full-Height Axial P 3 Solver for the 2D/1D Method in MPACT

This report encompasses the efforts to complete L3:RTM.PRT.P15.04, which relates to improvements to the axial solvers in MPACT. Over the past few years, a number of convergence issues have been encountered throughout the 2D/1D calculation. While many of these were related to transport-corrected stability, which has been much improved through the development of multigroup MOC kernels, there are still some instabilities that are more directly related to the 1D axial nodal solvers. The primary focus of this milestone is on the development of a full-height P 3 solver, which solves for a single linear system for the entire rod, compared to the one- and two-node solvers previously available in MPACT. To provide an efficient full-height solver, the SuperLU direct linear solver was leveraged and an alternative rod decomposition scheme is used in favor over the typically employed axial decomposition. In addition to the full-height solver, a number of stability observations are discussed pertaining to (1) cases with thin planes in the axial reflectors, (2) quadratic radial leakage interpolation, (3) the reset sol capability, which reinitializes the solution before continuing the calculation, and (4) the flux threshold used in the radial transverse leakage splitting logic. The last of these was improved by identifying an acceptable threshold, which greatly help provide stability to the default one-node P 3 solver approach. Results demonstrating the full-height solver are presented for (1) a single assembly case from the AP1000 reactor design, (2) VERA Progression Problem 5a, and (3) a Watts Bar Unit 1, Cycle 1 case that demonstrated convergence issues due to thin planes in the axial reflector. In total, the full-height solver appears to be 3–5× slower for the nodal solve time, yield a roughly 10–20% increase in total problem run time, and requires ~5% more memory. However, these increases may be justifiable if the solver is proven to be more stable than the current default. Additionally, the VERA Progression Problem 4a case with the 252-group library is shown for the one-node P 3 solver with the updated threshold for radial transverse leakage splitting. This case also previous failed very early in the calculation, but is now able to run to completion. Brief details are also included related to the refactoring the nodal sweeper design. Previously, all nodal sweeper options were available in one large module, which was cumbersome and difficult to extend. Before the work here began, the design was refactored to include a number of abstract and extended types, which will help make future extensions easier. All-in-all, this milestone successfully implemented a new axial solver and improved the stability of the current default axial solver. However, additional testing will be necessary on new cases that demonstrate convergence issues before a decision can be made to change the current default in MPACT.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Novel Solver Algorithms for Nearly Singular Linear Systems Arising in Combustion Modelling

Direct Numerical Simulations of realistic combustion devices are extremely challenging due to the wide separation of scales in the simulation, for example an internal combustion (IC) engine chamber, and the flame thickness of a high-pressure flame. The PeleLMeX solver uses adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) to evolve multi-species reacting flows in the low Mach number limit at the Exascale and relies on an embedded boundary (EB) approach to represent complex geometries. In that framework, the EB geometries often give rise to very small cut-cells along the boundary, which translate into extreme ill-conditioning of the pressure-projection, with eigenvalues that span 15-16 orders of magnitude. In this talk, we focus on the case of a typical IC piston bowl geometry for which we present on a novel approach towards solving these nearly singular linear systems with ILU-based, C-AMG smoothers on massively parallel architectures. In particular, we use scaling and equilibration algorithms to handle the non-normality of the upper triangular factors. This enables us to approximate the highly sequential triangular solve algorithm, embedded in the AMG smoothing-solve phase, with Jacobi iterations. This approximation can be written as a convergent Neumann series whose terms are composed of highly parallel sparse matrix vector multiplications. The result is an algorithm that substantially decreases setup and solve time, compared to state-of-the-art, for these challenging linear systems.

combustion modelling↗

Linear Microbunching Gain Estimation Including CSR, LSC And Linac Geometric Impedances In Recirculation Arcs

It is known that microbunching instability (MBI) has been one of the most challenging issues with the design of magnetic compressor chicanes for X-ray FEL or linear colliders, as well as the transport lines for recirculating or energy recovery linacs. To more accurately quantify MBI in a single-pass system and for more complete analyses, we extend our previously developed linear Vlasov solver [1] to incorporate more relevant impedance models into the code, including transient and steady-state coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR), the longitudinal space charge (LSC), and the linac geometric impedance models. Then we self-consistently solve the linearized Vlasov equation for the gain amplification factor. With application of this code to two specially designed recirculation arcs [2], the resultant gain functions and spectra are presented and some results are compared with particle tracking simulation by ELEGANT. We also discuss some underlying physics with inclusion of these collective effects. It is anticipated this more complete analysis can further improve the understanding of the MBI mechanisms and shed light on how to suppress or compensate MBI effects in lattice designs. [1] C. -Y. Tsai et al., Theoretical investigation of coherent synchrotron radiation induced microbunching instability in transport and recirculation arcs, Proceedings of FEL 14, available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1408.5542 [2] D. Douglas et al., Control of Coherent Synchrotron Radiation and Micro-Bunching Effects During Transport of High Brightness Electron Beams, JLAB-ACP-14-1751, available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1403.2318 Authored by Jefferson Science Associates, LLC under U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC05-06OR23177.

Tsai, C. -Y.↗

Linear optimal power flow system and method

An electric power system or power grid is optimized using a computer-implemented tool the represents in computer memory the optimization function and at least one constraint, which the processor operates upon using a linear programming solver algorithm. The constraints are represented in memory as data structures that include both real and reactive power terms, corresponding to at least one of a power flow model and a transmission line model. The transmission line model is represented using a piecewise linear representation. The power flow model may also include for each node in the power system a real power loss term representing transmission line loss allocated to that node.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Proteus-MOC: A 3D deterministic solver incorporating 2D method of characteristics

A new transport solution methodology was developed by combining the two-dimensional method of characteristics with the discontinuous Galerkin method for the treatment of the axial variable. The method, which can be applied to arbitrary extruded geometries, was implemented in PROTEUS-MOC and includes parallelization in group, angle, plane, and space using a top level GMRES linear algebra solver. Verification tests were performed to show accuracy and stability of the method with the increased number of angular directions and mesh elements. Good scalability with parallelism in angle and axial planes is displayed. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Domain decomposition approaches for accelerating contour integration eigenvalue solvers for symmetric eigenvalue problems

This work discusses techniques for computing a few selected eigenvalue–eigenvector pairs of large and sparse symmetric matrices. A recently developed class of techniques to solve this type of problems is based on integrating the matrix resolvent operator along a complex contour that encloses the interval containing the eigenvalues of interest. This paper considers such contour integration techniques from a domain decomposition viewpoint and proposes two schemes. The first scheme can be seen as an extension of domain decomposition linear system solvers in the framework of contour integration methods for eigenvalue problems, such as FEAST. The second scheme focuses on integrating the resolvent operator primarily along the interface region defined by adjacent subdomains. A parallel implementation of the proposed schemes is described, and results on distributed computing environments are reported. These results show that domain decomposition approaches can lead to reduced run times and improved scalability.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗