Development of a Real-Time Dynamic Super-Element Forced Partitioning

Computational structural mechanics (CSM) is used in energy and other key national industries, and the ever-increasing size of the simulations imposes a pressing neeed for commensurate increases in computational speed, in order to keep costs and computation times in check. This project will integrate a finite-element-model (FEM) sensitivity- compression technique with an ultra-rapid parallel-processing technology, in order to achieve a very significant increase in computational speed. Automatic, adaptive forced partitioning will be used to decompose the FEM model into super-elements for parallel processing. The overall goal is the development of robust software for the ultra-rapid evaluation of detailed structural models. In Phase I, a super-element sensitivity-derivative algorithm will be developed using existing mathematical formulations that accurately relate super-element sensitivity derivatives to FEM element stiffness. A dynamic, super-element partitioning algorithm will be developed by enhancing an existing, static partitioning algorithm, so that it can dynamically and flexibly reconfigure a structure from one that has symmetrical partitions to one that has asymmetrical partitions (super-elements). Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by the Applicant: The methodology should significantly decrease computing times and costs in many structural analysis/design applications such as aircraft, marine structures, and buildings. The methodology also should be applicable to other engineering fields such as computational fluid dynamics and computational electromagnetics