A fast solver for FEM analyses using the parallelized algebraic multigrid method

Abstract

The algebraic multigrid (AMG) method is an efficient solver for linear systems arising in finite element analyses. The AMG method is applicable at a matrix level, different from the geometric multigrid solvers. This paper proposes a combination of the parallel processing technique and the AMG method as a fast solver for electromagnetic field analyses. While the AMG method consists of a setup phase and a solution phase, parallel processing of the former phase is difficult. We present the use of long-range interpolation instead of the conventional direct interpolation for improvement of the parallel efficiency of the AMG setup phase. A magnetostatic analysis and an eddy-current analysis show the solver performance. The numerical results show that parallelized AMG is a fast solver and has sufficient scalability, as compared with the conventional solver.