Acquisition of a Multi-processor Computing Facility for Nonlinear Mathematical Field Problems

宾夕法尼亚州立大学科学学院和工程学院的一个教职员工和学生小组提议购买一台多处理器计算机设施，以解决数学场方程。 教师来自数学系，天文学和天体物理学，航空航天工程和机械工程。 该计划的目标是：在科学和工程中的不稳定，三维，非线性现象的并行计算机架构上开发数值模拟;比较和共享应用于类似数学问题的数值方法;并将并行计算机上的数值解集成到研究生课程中。 这些目标将通过以下方式实现：（1）建立一个多处理器计算机设施，供教职员工和学生使用;（2）对具有共同主题和挑战的数学问题进行研究;（3）开发模型问题和解决方案，供研究生课程使用;（4）通过万维网传播研究和教学活动的成果。 将在以下领域进行研究：黑洞碰撞;不稳定流动和声学;电磁学;磁热毛细对流;地球物理流体流动。 不同的数值方法将被用来解决这些领域的问题，包括：自适应有限元;高阶有限差分;和频谱技术。 虽然研究主题涵盖许多不同的现象，但它们都有共同的数学和计算挑战。 它们都涉及三维、非定常、非线性、偏微分方程的求解。 它们都是涉及广泛的长度和时间尺度的问题。 此外，它们都需要分析大型的时间相关的解决方案数据集。 最后，在多个处理器上有效运行并最大限度地利用硬件架构的数值方法对所有模拟都至关重要。 这里提出的设施不仅有先进的体系结构，而且还开发工具，调试，分析和调整程序。 计算机还允许所有三种形式的并行处理：共享内存;消息传递（MPI和PVM）;和数据并行（Fortran 90和高性能Fortran）。 本提案中的活动得到了Silicon Graphics Inc.和IBM。 为了促进更多的合作和传播，研究团队将定期举办系列研讨会/研讨会。 这项活动的目标是分享并行计算技术的知识，跟上软件和算法的新发展，并使设施用户了解其他小组成员的活动详情。 除了在研究活动的共同线索，拟议的研究将有广泛的联系，我们的研究生教育活动。 宾州州立大学正在建立一个高性能计算中心。 这部分是由国家科学基金会根据其联合研究课程开发（CRCD）计划提供的赠款支持的。 该中心将联合收割机结合我们的研究活动和我们的研究生教育计划，包括在高性能计算未成年人。 五个新的研究生和本科生课程应用并行处理已经提供。 学生进入拟议的研究设施，以及接触研究活动将提供一个宝贵的增强教学计划

A team of faculty, staff and students in the College of Science and the College of Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University propose to acquire a multi-processor computer facility to enable the solution of mathematical field equations. The faculty are drawn from the Department of Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aerospace Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The goals of the program are: to develop numerical simulations on parallel computer architectures of unsteady, three-dimensional, non-linear phenomena in science and engineering; to compare and share numerical methods applied to similar mathematical problems; and to integrate numerical solutions on parallel computers into the gradua te curriculum. These goals will be achieved by (1) the establishment of a multi-processor computer facility accessible to a team of faculty, staff, and students, (2) the conduct of research on mathematical problems with common themes and challenges, (3) the development of model problems and solutions for use in graduate coursework and, ( 4) the dissemination of the results of the research and instructional activities through the World Wide Web. Research will be conducted in the areas of : black hole collisions; unsteady flow and acoustics; electromagnetics; magneto-thermocapillary convection; and geophysical fluid flows. Different numerical methods will be used to solve problems in these areas including: adaptive finite-elements; high-order finite-differences; and spectral techniques. Though the research topics cover many different phenomena, they all have common mathematical and computational challenges. They all involve the solution of three-dimensional, unsteady, non-linear, partial differential equations. They are all problems that involve a wide range of length and time scales. Also, they all require the analysis of large time-dependent solution data sets. Finally, numerical approaches that run efficiently on multiple processors and take maximum advantage of the hardware architecture are of vital importance to all the simulations. The facility proposed here has not only advanced architecture but also development tools for debugging, profiling, and tuning the programs. The computer also allows all three forms of parallel processing: shared memory; message-passing (MPI and PVM); and data parallel (Fortran 90 and High Performance Fortran). The activities in this proposal have the support of and cooperation with both Silicon Graphics Inc. and IBM. To promote additional cooperation and dissemination the research team will establish a regular workshop/seminar series. This activity will have the goals, to share knowledge on techniques of parallel computation, to keep abreast of new developments in software and algorithms and, to keep facility users informed in detail of the activities of the other team members. In addition to the common threads in the research activities, the proposed research will have extensive links to our graduate education activities. Penn State is establishing a Center for High Performance Computation. This is partially supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation under its Combined Research-Curriculum Development (CRCD) Program. The Center will combine our research activities and our graduate education program, including a minor in High Performance Computation. Five new graduate and undergraduate courses in applied parallel processing are already being offered. Access by students to the proposed research facility, as well as exposure to the research activities will provide an invaluable enhancement to the instructional program