Development of a high-performance domain-wise parallel direct solver for large-scale structural analysis

Abstract

Most of researches for large-scale parallel structural analysis using finite element method have focused on iterative solution methods since direct solution methods generally have many difficulties and disadvantages for large-scale problems. However, due to the numerical robustness of direct methods that guarantees the solution to be obtained within estimated time, direct methods are much more desirable for general application of large-scale structural analysis, as well as due to ease of use which makes most of structural engineers prefer direct methods. In this research, we propose a parallel direct solver for large-scale finite element analysis that can overcome most of difficulties and disadvantages of direct methods by using domain-wise approach for direct methods. By using the proposed solver with our own structural analysis code, we can show good scalability as a direct method and can solve the largest problem ever solved by direct solvers.