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At least 19 records

Fast nonlinear iterative solver for an implicit, energy-conserving, asymptotic-preserving charged-particle orbit integrator

Here recently, an asymptotic-preserving (AP) particle orbit integrator has been proposed with remarkable properties including exact energy conservation, the ability to capture of all first-order drifts (including the ∇B-drift), the ability to capture trapped-passing boundaries with parallel velocity extremely close to the critical velocity, and the ability to transition from strongly to weakly magnetized spatial regions. The new AP orbit integrator is implicit, employing a Crank-Nicolson (CN) temporal discretization to ensure exact energy conservation. This, in turn, requires a local nonlinear iteration involving particle velocities and positions, and the local electromagnetic fields, to obtain the new-time solution. Ref. [1] did not attempt to provide an efficient solver for this system, and employed a brute-force GMRES-driven Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) solver to invert the particle orbit equations at every timestep for expediency. While JFNK is robust and reliable, it is also expensive and very intrusive for practical implementations of the method (it requires having the JFNK machinery available and solving a 6 x 6 Jacobian system iteratively once per iteration per particle).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Fast Multilevel Solvers for a Class of Discrete Fourth Order Parabolic Problems

In this paper, we study fast iterative solvers for the solution of fourth order parabolic equations discretized by mixed finite element methods. We propose to use consistent mass matrix in the discretization and use lumped mass matrix to construct efficient preconditioners. We provide eigenvalue analysis for the preconditioned system and estimate the convergence rate of the preconditioned GMRes method. Furthermore, we show that these preconditioners only need to be solved inexactly by optimal multigrid algorithms. Our numerical examples indicate that the proposed preconditioners are very efficient and robust with respect to both discretization parameters and diffusion coefficients. We also investigate the performance of multigrid algorithms with either collective smoothers or distributive smoothers when solving the preconditioner systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A Segregated Approach for Modeling the Electrochemistry in the 3-D Microstructure of Li-Ion Batteries and Its Acceleration Using Block Preconditioners

Abstract Battery performance is strongly correlated with electrode microstructure. Electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries have complex microstructure geometries that require millions of degrees of freedom to solve the electrochemical system at the microstructure scale. A fast-iterative solver with an appropriate preconditioner is then required to simulate large representative volume in a reasonable time. In this work, a finite element electrochemical model is developed to resolve the concentration and potential within the electrode active materials and the electrolyte domains at the microstructure scale, with an emphasis on numerical stability and scaling performances. The block Gauss-Seidel (BGS) numerical method is implemented because the system of equations within the electrodes is coupled only through the nonlinear Butler–Volmer equation, which governs the electrochemical reaction at the interface between the domains. The best solution strategy found in this work consists of splitting the system into two blocks—one for the concentration and one for the potential field—and then performing block generalized minimal residual preconditioned with algebraic multigrid, using the FEniCS and the Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation libraries. Significant improvements in terms of time to solution (six times faster) and memory usage (halving) are achieved compared with the MUltifrontal Massively Parallel sparse direct Solver. Additionally, BGS experiences decent strong parallel scaling within the electrode domains. Last, the system of equations is modified to specifically address numerical instability induced by electrolyte depletion, which is particularly valuable for simulating fast-charge scenarios relevant for automotive application.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Efficient shallow Ritz method for 1D diffusion problems

This paper studies the shallow Ritz method for solving the one-dimensional diffusion problem. It is shown that the shallow Ritz method improves the order of approximation dramatically for non-smooth problems. To realize this optimal or nearly optimal order of the shallow Ritz approximation, we develop a damped block Newton (dBN) method that alternates between updates of the linear and non-linear parameters. Per each iteration, the linear and the non-linear parameters are updated by exact inversion and one step of a modified, damped Newton method applied to a reduced non-linear system, respectively. The computational cost of each dBN iteration is $\mathcal{O}$(n). Starting with the non-linear parameters as a uniform partition of the interval, numerical experiments show that the dBN is capable of efficiently moving mesh points to nearly optimal locations. In conclusion, to improve the efficiency of the dBN further, we propose an adaptive damped block Newton (AdBN) method by combining the dBN with the adaptive neuron enhancement (ANE) method [28].

Diffusion problems↗

A Fast Algebraic Multigrid Solver and Accurate Discretization for Highly Anisotropic Heat Flux I: Open Field Lines

We present a novel solver technique for the anisotropic heat flux equation, aimed at the high level of anisotropy seen in magnetic confinement fusion plasmas. Such problems pose two major challenges: (i) discretization accuracy and (ii) efficient implicit linear solvers. We simultaneously address each of these challenges by constructing a new finite element discretization with excellent accuracy properties, tailored to a novel solver approach based on algebraic multigrid (AMG) methods designed for advective operators. We pose the problem in a mixed formulation, introducing the directional temperature gradient as an auxiliary variable. The temperature and auxiliary fields are discretized in a scalar discontinuous Galerkin space with upwinding principles used for discretizations of advection. We demonstrate the proposed discretization’s superior accuracy over other discretizations of anisotropic heat flux, achieving error 1000x smaller for anisotropy ratio of 10 9 , for closed field lines. The block matrix system is reordered and solved in an approach where the two advection operators are inverted using AMG solvers based on approximate ideal restriction, which is particularly efficient for upwind discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of advection. To ensure that the advection operators are nonsingular, in this paper we restrict ourselves to considering open (acyclic) magnetic field lines for the linear solvers. We demonstrate fast convergence of the proposed iterative solver in highly anisotropic regimes where other diffusion-based AMG methods fail.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Efficient Kriging Algorithms

More efficient versions of an interpolation method, called kriging, have been introduced in order to reduce its traditionally high computational cost. Written in C++, these approaches were tested on both synthetic and real data. Kriging is a best unbiased linear estimator and suitable for interpolation of scattered data points. Kriging has long been used in the geostatistic and mining communities, but is now being researched for use in the image fusion of remotely sensed data. This allows a combination of data from various locations to be used to fill in any missing data from any single location. To arrive at the faster algorithms, sparse SYMMLQ iterative solver, covariance tapering, Fast Multipole Methods (FMM), and nearest neighbor searching techniques were used. These implementations were used when the coefficient matrix in the linear system is symmetric, but not necessarily positive-definite.

Memarsadeghi, Nargess↗

A semi-direct procedure using a local relaxation factor and its application to an internal flow problem

Generally, fast direct solvers are not directly applicable to a nonseparable elliptic partial differential equation. This limitation, however, is circumvented by a semi-direct procedure, i.e., an iterative procedure using fast direct solvers. An efficient semi-direct procedure which is easy to implement and applicable to a variety of boundary conditions is presented. The current procedure also possesses other highly desirable properties, i.e.: (1) the convergence rate does not decrease with an increase of grid cell aspect ratio, and (2) the convergence rate is estimated using the coefficients of the partial differential equation being solved.

Chang, S. C.↗

Fast structural design and analysis via hybrid domain decomposition on massively parallel processors

A hybrid domain decomposition framework for static, transient and eigen finite element analyses of structural mechanics problems is presented. Its basic ingredients include physical substructuring and /or automatic mesh partitioning, mapping algorithms, 'gluing' approximations for fast design modifications and evaluations, and fast direct and preconditioned iterative solvers for local and interface subproblems. The overall methodology is illustrated with the structural design of a solar viewing payload that is scheduled to fly in March 1993. This payload has been entirely designed and validated by a group of undergraduate students at the University of Colorado using the proposed hybrid domain decomposition approach on a massively parallel processor. Performance results are reported on the CRAY Y-MP/8 and the iPSC-860/64 Touchstone systems, which represent both extreme parallel architectures. The hybrid domain decomposition methodology is shown to outperform leading solution algorithms and to exhibit an excellent parallel scalability.

Farhat, Charbel↗

Fast inversion, preconditioned quantum linear system solvers, fast Green's-function computation, and fast evaluation of matrix functions

Preconditioning is the most widely used and effective way for treating ill-conditioned linear systems in the context of classical iterative linear system solvers. We introduce a quantum primitive called fast inversion, which can be used as a preconditioner for solving quantum linear systems. The key idea of fast inversion is to directly block encode a matrix inverse through a quantum circuit implementing the inversion of eigenvalues via classical arithmetics. We demonstrate the application of preconditioned linear system solvers for computing single-particle Green's functions of quantum many-body systems, which are widely used in quantum physics, chemistry, and materials science. We analyze the complexities in three scenarios: the Hubbard model, the quantum many-body Hamiltonian in the plane-wave-dual basis, and the Schwinger model. We also provide a method for performing Green's function calculation in second quantization within a fixed-particle manifold and note that this approach may be valuable for simulation more broadly. Aside from solving linear systems, fast inversion also allows us to develop fast algorithms for computing matrix functions, such as the efficient preparation of Gibbs states. Furthermore, we introduce two efficient approaches for such a task, based on the contour-integral formulation and the inverse transform, respectively.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Application of the inverse fast multipole method as a preconditioner in a 3D Helmholtz boundary element method

Here we investigate an efficient preconditioning of iterative methods (such as GMRES) for solving dense linear systems Ax = b that follow from a boundary element method (BEM) for the 3D Helmholtz equation, focusing on the low-frequency regime. While matrix–vector products in GMRES can be accelerated through the low-frequency fast multipole method (LFFMM), the BEM often remains computationally expensive due to the large number of GMRES iterations. We propose the application of the inverse fast multipole method (IFMM) as a preconditioner to accelerate the convergence of GMRES. The IFMM is in essence an approximate direct solver that uses a multilevel hierarchical decomposition and low-rank approximations. The proposed IFMM-based preconditioning has a tunable parameter ε that balances the cost to construct a preconditioner M, which is an approximation of A -1 , and the cost to perform the iterative process by means of M. Namely, using a small (respectively, large) value of ε takes a long (respectively, short) time to construct M, while the number of iterations can be small (respectively, large). A comprehensive set of numerical examples involving various boundary value problems with complicated geometries and mixed boundary conditions is presented to validate the efficiency of the proposed method. We show that the IFMM preconditioner (with a nearly optimal ε of 10 -2 ) clearly outperforms some common preconditioners for the BEM, achieving 1.2–10.8 times speed-up of the computations, in particular when the scale of the underlying scatterer is about five wavelengths or more. In addition, the IFMM preconditioner is capable of solving complicated problems (in a reasonable amount of time) that BD preconditioner can not.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Advances in the application of fast semidirect computational methods in transonic flow

The paper uses finite-difference algorithms called 'fast direct elliptic solvers' within an iteration scheme for the rapid solution of the equations of inviscid transonic aerodynamics. The methods are called 'direct' (or semidirect) because the entire computational field is solved at once rather than in successive traverses over the field. These semidirect iterative methods have been limited here to the investigation of two-dimensional steady inviscid flow over airfoils in subsonic free stream.

Martin, E. D.↗

Variants and extensions of a fast direct numerical cauchy-riemann solver, with illustrative applications

Revised and extended versions of a fast, direct (noniterative) numerical Cauchy-Riemann solver are presented for solving finite difference approximations of first order systems of partial differential equations. Although the difference operators treated are linear and elliptic, one significant application of these extended direct Cauchy-Riemann solvers is in the fast, semidirect (iterative) solution of fluid dynamic problems governed by the nonlinear mixed elliptic-hyperbolic equations of transonic flow. Different versions of the algorithms are derived and the corresponding FORTRAN computer programs for a simple example problem are described and listed. The algorithms are demonstrated to be efficient and accurate.

Martin, E. D.↗

Advances in Application of Fast Semidirect Computational Methods in Transonic Flow

This paper is intended as a review and summary of the advances made in a recently developed approach for rapid numerical solution of the equations of inviscid transonic aerodynamics. The investigation has been limited to two-dimensional, steady, inviscid flow over airfoils in a subsonic free stream, with emphasis on development of a rapid computational technique, rather than on generality of application. The approach uses finite-difference algorithms called "fast direct elliptic solvers" within an iteration scheme. "Direct" means that the entire computation field is solved at once, rather than in successive traverses over the field as in a point- or line-relaxation method. Such an iterative method is referred to as "semidirect." The iterative convergence can be faster than in other relaxation methods because changes are felt simultaneously at all points in each succeeding iteration. Direct elliptic solvers and semidirect methods have restrictions, but these are gradually being removed. Direct solvers were first developed for solving Poisson's equation on a rectangle without interior boundaries. A method to treat first-order systems, a direct Cauchy-Riemann solver has also been developed. Numerical treatment of part of a system of nonlinear equations by a Poisson solver has been reported. Also Poisson solvers in semidirect methods were used for nonseparable elliptic equations. The semidirect method was extended to the solution of a problem of mixed type, where the improved Murman-Cole transonic small-disturbance difference equations were solved. A slightly supercritical flow over a biconvex airfoil was treated successfully, but the iterations did not converge for more strongly supercritical conditions In another work the addition of terms ot both sides of the difference equations stabilized the iteration for supercritical conditions with large supersonic zones. For this, the Cauchy-Riemann solver was revised to incl,ude the needed terms. Most recently, the evaluation of parameters for rapid convergence and comparisons, with Murman's line-relaxation method was described. The method was extended to full second order accuracy in a fully conservative formulation in another work.

Martin, E. Dale↗

Postprocessing Mixed Finite Element Methods For Solving Cahn–Hilliard Equation: Methods and Error Analysis

A postprocessing technique for mixed finite element methods for the Cahn-Hilliard equation is developed and analyzed. Once the mixed finite element approximations have been computed at a fixed time on the coarser mesh, the approximations are postprocessed by solving two decoupled Poisson equations in an enriched finite element space (either on a finer grid or a higher-order space) for which many fast Poisson solvers can be applied. The nonlinear iteration is only applied to a much smaller size problem and the computational cost using Newton and direct solvers is negligible compared with the cost of the linear problem. The analysis presented here shows that this technique remains the optimal rate of convergence for both the concentration and the chemical potential approximations. The corresponding error estimate obtained in our paper, especially the negative norm error estimates, are non-trivial and different with the existing results in the literatures.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

A split-recoupled-semidirect computational technique applied to transonic flow over lifting airfoils

A new version of the semidirect iterative method eliminates significant restrictions of previous versions of the method. A semidirect method solves finite-difference equations by a rapid globally implicit iterative process driven by a fast direct elliptic solver. The new approach can treat complex systems of equations in an efficient 'correction form', and allows the use of general, nonorthogonal, boundary-fitted coordinate transformations. These features are expected to lead to significant practical applications with conservation-equation systems in either two or three dimensions. The present application to the full potential equations for steady transonic flow over an airfoil at angle of attack illustrates the utility of the technique.

Martin, E. D.↗

Accelerated iterative calculation of transonic nacelle flowfields

A method is presented for the calculation of inviscid, supercritical flowfields about axisymmetric inlet cowls. A finite-difference calculation is performed in a simple, rectangular domain obtained from the nacelle geometry by a nearly-conformal mapping procedure. Type-dependent finite-differences are constructed using a coordinate-independent, 'rotated' differencing scheme. Methods of accelerating convergence of the iterative solution are demonstrated including a hybrid fast-Poisson-solver/relaxation scheme and an extrapolated relaxation procedure. Calculated pressure distributions are compared with experimental data for a variety of Mach numbers and mass-flow ratios, and show generally good agreement.

Caughey, D. A.↗

Fast methods incorporating direct elliptic solvers for nonlinear applications in fluid dynamics

Semidirect methods are discussed, their present role, as well as some developments for their application in computational fluid dynamics. A semidirect method is a computational scheme that uses a fast, direct, elliptic solver as the driving algorithm for the iterative solution of finite difference equations. Specific subtopics include: (1) direct Cauchy Riemann solvers for first order elliptic equations; (2) application of the semidirect method to the mixed elliptic hyperbolic problem of steady, inviscid transonic flow; and (3) the treatment of interior conditions, such as those on an airfoil or wing, in semidirect methods.

Martin, E. D.↗