CHIMPS: A High-Performance Scalable Module for Multi-Physics Simulations

Abstract

As computational methods attempt to simulate ever more complex physical systems the need to couple independently-developed numerical models and solvers arises. This often results from the requirement to use different physical or numerical models for various portions of the domain of interest. In many situations it is also common to use different physical models that interact within the same domain of interest. The interaction between these models normally requires an exchange of information between the participating solvers. When the solvers that exchange information are distributed over a large number of processors in a parallel computer, the problem of exchanging information in an efficient and scalable fashion becomes complicated. This paper describes our efforts to develop a Coupler for High-Performance Integrated Multi-Physics Simulations, CHIMPS, that can enable the exchange of information between solvers and that automates the search, interpolation and communication processes in order to allow the developer to focus on appropriate strategies to couple solvers in an accurate and stable fashion. Our basic approach, the underlying technology and a number of examples are presented. A series of appendices are included with actual sample code and a description of the full CHIMPS API at the time of writing.