Parallel benchmarks of turbulence in complex geometries (Q1370689)

We present benchmark results from the parallel implementation of the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver Prism on different parallel platforms of current interest: IBM SP2 (all three types of processors), SGI Power Challenge XL and Cray C90. The numerical method is based on mixed spectral element-Fourier expansions in \((x-y)\) and \(z\)-directions, respectively. Each one (or a group) of the Fourier modes can be computed on a separate processor as the linear contributions in Navier-Stokes equations (Helmholtz solvers) are completely uncoupled. Coupling is obtained via the nonlinear contributions (advection terms) and requires a global transpose of the data and one-dimensional multiple-point FFTs. We first analyze the computational complexity of Prism identifying basic computational kernels and communication bottlenecks. Next, we define two three-dimensional benchmark flow problems in prototype complex geometries, and measure parallel scalability and performance using different message-passing libraries. Special emphasis is placed on runtime data processing, e.g. turbulence statistics computed during the simulation.