Parallel algorithms for boundary value problems

A general approach to solve boundary value problems numerically in a parallel environment is discussed. The basic algorithm consists of two steps: the local step where all the P available processors work in parallel, and the global step where one processor solves a tridiagonal linear system of the order P. The main advantages of this approach are two fold. First, this suggested approach is very flexible, especially in the local step and thus the algorithm can be used with any number of processors and with any of the SIMD or MIMD machines. Secondly, the communication complexity is very small and thus can be used as easily with shared memory machines. Several examples for using this strategy are discussed

Solution of partial differential equations on vector and parallel computers

The present status of numerical methods for partial differential equations on vector and parallel computers was reviewed. The relevant aspects of these computers are discussed and a brief review of their development is included, with particular attention paid to those characteristics that influence algorithm selection. Both direct and iterative methods are given for elliptic equations as well as explicit and implicit methods for initial boundary value problems. The intent is to point out attractive methods as well as areas where this class of computer architecture cannot be fully utilized because of either hardware restrictions or the lack of adequate algorithms. Application areas utilizing these computers are briefly discussed

Fractional boundary value problems and Lyapunov-type inequalities with fractional integral boundary conditions

We discuss boundary value problems for Riemann-Liouville fractional differential equations with certain fractional integral boundary conditions. Such boundary conditions are different from the widely considered pointwise conditions in the sense that they allow solutions to have singularities, and different from other conditions given by integrals with a singular kernel since they arise from well-defined initial value problems. We derive Lyapunov-type inequalities for linear fractional differential equations and apply them to establish nonexistence, uniqueness, and existence-uniqueness of solutions for certain linear fractional boundary value problems. Parallel results are also obtained for sequential fractional differential equations. An example is given to show how computer programs and numerical algorithms can be used to verify the conditions and to apply the results

Analysis of a parallelized nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem solver with application to reacting flows

A parallelized finite difference code based on the Newton method for systems of nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems in two dimensions is analyzed in terms of computational complexity and parallel efficiency. An approximate cost function depending on 15 dimensionless parameters is derived for algorithms based on stripwise and boxwise decompositions of the domain and a one-to-one assignment of the strip or box subdomains to processors. The sensitivity of the cost functions to the parameters is explored in regions of parameter space corresponding to model small-order systems with inexpensive function evaluations and also a coupled system of nineteen equations with very expensive function evaluations. The algorithm was implemented on the Intel Hypercube, and some experimental results for the model problems with stripwise decompositions are presented and compared with the theory. In the context of computational combustion problems, multiprocessors of either message-passing or shared-memory type may be employed with stripwise decompositions to realize speedup of O(n), where n is mesh resolution in one direction, for reasonable n

A new class of asynchronous iterative methods with order intervals

International audienceThis paper deals with a new class of parallel asynchronous iterative algorithms for the solution of nonlinear systems of equations. The main feature of the new class of methods preseted here is the possibility of flexible commmunication between processors. In particular partial updates can be exchanged. Approximation of the asssociated fixed point mapping is also considered. A detailed convergengence study is presented. A connection with the Schwarz alternating method is made for nonlinear boundary value problems. Computational results on a shared memory multiprocessotr IBM 3090 are presented

ANALYSIS OF TWO PARAREAL ALGORITHMS FOR TIME-PERIODIC PROBLEMS ∗

Abstract. The parareal algorithm, which permits us to solve evolution problems in a time parallel fashion, has created a lot of attention over the past decade. The algorithm has its roots in the multiple shooting method for boundary value problems, which in the parareal algorithm is applied to initial value problems, with a particular coarse approximation of the Jacobian matrix. It is therefore of interest to formulate parareal-type algorithms for time-periodic problems, which also couple the end of the time interval with the beginning, and to analyze their performance in this context. We present and analyze two parareal algorithms for time-periodic problems: one with a periodic coarse problem and one with a nonperiodic coarse problem. An interesting advantage of the algorithm with the nonperiodic coarse problem is that no time-periodic problems need to be solved during the iteration, since on the time subdomains, the problems are not time-periodic either. We prove for both linear and nonlinear problems convergence of the new algorithms, with linear bounds on the convergence. We also extend these results to evolution partial differential equations using Fourier techniques. We illustrate our analysis with numerical experiments, both for model problems and the realistic application of a nonlinear cooled reverse-flow reactor system of partial differential equations

Parallel Controllability Methods For the Helmholtz Equation

The Helmholtz equation is notoriously difficult to solve with standard numerical methods, increasingly so, in fact, at higher frequencies. Controllability methods instead transform the problem back to the time-domain, where they seek the time-harmonic solution of the corresponding time-dependent wave equation. Two different approaches are considered here based either on the first or second-order formulation of the wave equation. Both are extended to general boundary-value problems governed by the Helmholtz equation and lead to robust and inherently parallel algorithms. Numerical results illustrate the accuracy, convergence and strong scalability of controllability methods for the solution of high frequency Helmholtz equations with up to a billion unknowns on massively parallel architectures