Optimizing the Performance of the Spectral/hp Element Method with Collective Linear Algebra Operations

As computing hardware evolves, increasing core counts mean that memory bandwidth is becoming the deciding factor in attaining peak performance of numerical methods. High-order finite element methods, such as those implemented in the spectral/hp framework Nektar++, are particularly well-suited to this environment. Unlike low-order methods that typically utilise sparse storage, matrices representing high-order operators have […]

An adaptable parallel algorithm for the direct numerical simulation of incompressible turbulent flows using a Fourier spectral/hp element method and MPI virtual topologies

A hybrid parallelisation technique for distributed memory systems is investigated for a coupled Fourier-\spectralhp element discretisation of domains characterised by geometric homogeneity in one or more directions. The performance of the approach is mathematically modelled in terms of operation count and communication costs for identifying the most efficient parameter choices. The model is calibrated to […]

Ensuring an effective user experience when managing and running scientific HPC software

With CPU clock speeds stagnating over the last few years, ongoing advances in computing power and capabilities are being supported through increasing multi- and many-core parallelism. The resulting cost of locally maintaining large-scale computing infrastructure, combined with the need to perform increasingly large simulations, is leading to the wider use of alternative models of accessing […]