Parallelization of the distinct lattice spring model

Gao-Feng Zhao & Jiannong Fang & Liang Sun & Jian Zhao

The distinct lattice spring model (DLSM) is a newly developed numerical tool for modeling rock dynamicsproblems, i.e. dynamic failure and wave propagation. In this paper, parallelization of DLSM is presented. Withthe development of parallel computing technologies in both hardware and software, parallelization of a code isbecoming easier than before. There are many available choices now. In this paper, Open Multi-Processing(OpenMP) with multicore personal computer (PC) and message passing interface (MPI) with cluster are selectedas the environments to parallelize DLSM. Performances of these parallel DLSM codes are tested on differentcomputers. It is found that the parallel DLSM code with OpenMP can reach a maximum speed-up of 4.68
on aquad-core PC. The parallel DLSM code with MPI can achieve a speed-up of 40.886
when 256 CPUs are usedon a cluster. At the end of this paper, a high-resolution model with four million particles, which is too big tohandle by the serial code, is simulated by using the parallel DLSM code on a cluster. It is concluded that theparallelization of DLSM is successful. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.