Transient Dynamic Nonlinear Analysis Using MIMD Computer Architectures

This paper presents research on the use of homogeneous parallel and heterogeneous distributed computers for finite-element analysis of transient dynamic problems using a message passing interface. The appropriate computer architectures are discussed, and this review is the basis for the development of a new definition of computational efficiency for heterogeneously distributed finite-element analysis. A code for the transient nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete plates is profiled. It is demonstrated that although the code is efficient for homogeneous computing systems a new message passing procedure must be developed for heterogeneously distributed systems. A new algorithm is developed and tested on a heterogeneous system of workstations.