High performance computing equipment for advanced structural engineering testing and analysis

该提案的目的是为先进的结构工程应用提供高性能计算设备。建议的配置对应于一个国家的最先进的工程服务器优化计算密集型多任务数值模拟和操纵复杂的几何配置。迫切需要所寻求的设备，以进一步开展和扩大关于建筑物结构反应和设计的前沿实验工作和数值研究，该服务器将被集成到Ecole Polytechnique现有的真实的时间混合测试设施中，以执行复杂的混合测试程序，包括先进的数值计算，高度非线性结构的分析与实验室中物理子结构的真实的时间测试相结合。这将充分利用Ecole Polytechnique新结构工程测试实验室的卓越能力，该实验室是大型土木工程结构部件先进实验研究的世界级设施。该服务器还将用于对建筑物、桥梁和大坝结构进行复杂的有限元分析。典型的应用包括线性和非线性静态和动态分析、特征值和大位移分析以及在循环或地震荷载下的裂纹扩展和疲劳累积研究。原始复杂的非线性本构模型将作为新编程的有限元软件或用户定义的子程序的一部分开发，以实现现有的应用程序。新的模型进行了验证，对测试结果，然后被用来扩大实验程序的范围，以更有效地表征土木工程结构中的复杂现象。该设备还将承载顶级商业有限元软件，以处理前沿研究和工业应用。因此，它将允许与行业和顶级国际研究机构进行有效的互动。

The object of this proposal is a High Performance Computing equipment for advanced structural engineering applications. The configuration proposed corresponds to a state-of-the-art engineering server optimized forcomputationally intensive multi-tasking numerical simulations and manipulating complex geometrical configurations. The equipment sought is urgently needed to pursue and extend further leading edge experimental work and numerical studies on the structural response and design of building, bridge and dam infrastructures in Canada for extreme loading conditions such as earthquakes or severe thermal changes.The server will be integrated into the existing real time hybrid testing facility at Ecole Polytechnique to carry out complex hybrid test programs involving advanced numerical analysis of highly nonlinear structures coupled with real time testing of physical substructures in the laboratory. This will allow to fully exploit the outstanding capacities of the new Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory at Ecole Polytechnique, a world class facility in advanced experimental research on large scale civil engineering structural components. The server sought will also be used to run complex Finite Element analysis of building, bridge and dam structures. Typical applications to be performed include linear and nonlinear static and dynamic analyses, eigenvalue and large displacements analysis, and studies of crack propagation and fatigue cumulation under cyclic or seismic loading. Original complex nonlinear constitutive models will be developed as part of newly programmed Finite Element software or user-defined subroutines to be implemented into existing applications. New models are validated against test results and are then used to expand the scope of experimental programs to characterize more efficiently complex phenomena in civil engineering structures. The equipment will also host top commercial Finite Element software to handle forefront research and industrial applications. It will thus allow effective interaction with the industry and top international research organisations.