Can CFD problems be solved Parallely using Finite Element Method?

sreejith · April 14, 2013, 15:24

Can we divide and conquer a CFD problem using FEM and process it in a cluster/grid?

I'm planning to maybe implement it on BOINC. I'm from a computer science background and not very familiar with fluid dynamics (although I've good understanding of calculus and very basic fluid dynamics equations). I've heard it is difficult to parallel compute CFD in distributed computing circles. Why is it so?

duri · April 15, 2013, 09:28

Its not difficult to parallel processing of CFD code. Many commercial code exists with distributed and parallel processing. Even pre and post processing.

RodriguezFatz · April 16, 2013, 10:21

To your first question:
As I understand it you can use any way of solving the equations on a grid. But: In CFD, much efford is put into getting conserving equations. That is an inherent feature of the finite volume method and the reason why everyone uses it.

cfdnewbie · April 16, 2013, 12:36

It is not just a feature of the FV method, but of all integral methods. The main reason FV is used is because it can be stabilized so easily and is can deal with unstructured grids. But by far not everyone uses FV

RodriguezFatz · April 17, 2013, 01:58

Could you elaborate on this, cfdnewbie? I just have sparse knowledge about FEM, but I don't see how the equations can intrinsically conserve mass, like FV. Do you have any good paper about that?

cfdnewbie · April 17, 2013, 03:51

the answer is two-fold, I guess. First of all, you are starting from the integral form of the equations (like in FV), and then you are using a globally connected ansatz: elements share nodes at the faces, so like in FV, what goes in, must come out...you must take care of that in FV by ensuring the consistency of the fluxes at the interface.

RodriguezFatz · April 17, 2013, 03:55

I am not sure that I already got it... Do you know any good lecture notes?

cfdnewbie · April 17, 2013, 05:23

no, not really, sorry. What is still bothering you about it? Any global method (take Fourier Galerkin for example) conserves the conservation properties...

April 14, 2013, 15:24	Can CFD problems be solved Parallely using Finite Element Method?	#1
sreejith New Member Sreejith Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Can we divide and conquer a CFD problem using FEM and process it in a cluster/grid? I'm planning to maybe implement it on BOINC. I'm from a computer science background and not very familiar with fluid dynamics (although I've good understanding of calculus and very basic fluid dynamics equations). I've heard it is difficult to parallel compute CFD in distributed computing circles. Why is it so? Last edited by sreejith; April 14, 2013 at 15:27. Reason: Modified the question statement

April 16, 2013, 10:21		#3
RodriguezFatz Senior Member Philipp Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 1,297 Rep Power: 26	To your first question: As I understand it you can use any way of solving the equations on a grid. But: In CFD, much efford is put into getting conserving equations. That is an inherent feature of the finite volume method and the reason why everyone uses it. __________________ The skeleton ran out of shampoo in the shower.

April 17, 2013, 01:58		#5
RodriguezFatz Senior Member Philipp Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 1,297 Rep Power: 26	Could you elaborate on this, cfdnewbie? I just have sparse knowledge about FEM, but I don't see how the equations can intrinsically conserve mass, like FV. Do you have any good paper about that? __________________ The skeleton ran out of shampoo in the shower.

April 17, 2013, 03:55		#7
RodriguezFatz Senior Member Philipp Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Germany Posts: 1,297 Rep Power: 26	I am not sure that I already got it... Do you know any good lecture notes? __________________ The skeleton ran out of shampoo in the shower.

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April 15, 2013, 09:28		#2
duri Senior Member duri Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 245 Rep Power: 16	Its not difficult to parallel processing of CFD code. Many commercial code exists with distributed and parallel processing. Even pre and post processing.

April 16, 2013, 12:36		#4
cfdnewbie Senior Member cfdnewbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 557 Rep Power: 20	It is not just a feature of the FV method, but of all integral methods. The main reason FV is used is because it can be stabilized so easily and is can deal with unstructured grids. But by far not everyone uses FV

April 17, 2013, 03:51		#6
cfdnewbie Senior Member cfdnewbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 557 Rep Power: 20	the answer is two-fold, I guess. First of all, you are starting from the integral form of the equations (like in FV), and then you are using a globally connected ansatz: elements share nodes at the faces, so like in FV, what goes in, must come out...you must take care of that in FV by ensuring the consistency of the fluxes at the interface.

April 17, 2013, 05:23		#8
cfdnewbie Senior Member cfdnewbie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 557 Rep Power: 20	no, not really, sorry. What is still bothering you about it? Any global method (take Fourier Galerkin for example) conserves the conservation properties...