go to top scroll for more

Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/W026635/1
Title SysGenX: Composable software generation for system-level simulation at exascale
Status Started
Energy Categories Not Energy Related 95%;
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage) 5%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Applied Mathematics) 25%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 75%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor GN Wells

Engineering
University of Cambridge
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 December 2021
End Date 30 November 2025
Duration 48 months
Total Grant Value £979,027
Industrial Sectors Information Technologies
Region East of England
Programme SPF EXCALIBUR Programme
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor GN Wells , Engineering, University of Cambridge (99.997%)
  Other Investigator Dr G Pullan , Engineering, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
Professor C Schoenlieb , Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
Dr CN Richardson , BP Institute, University of Cambridge (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , EURATOM/CCFE (0.000%)
Project Contact , University of Colorado at Boulder, USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , Codeplay Software Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , NVIDIA Corporation, USA (0.000%)
Project Contact , BP Exploration, R &D (0.000%)
Project Contact , Turbostream Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , University of Muenster (Munster) (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Systems modelled by partial differential equations (PDEs) are ubiquitous in science and engineering. They are used to model problems including structures, fluids, materials, electromagnetics, wave propagation and biological systems, and in areas as varied as aerospace, image processing, medical therapeutics and economics. PDEs comprise a forward model for predicting the response of a system, but are also a key component in the solution of inverse problems, for design optimisation, uncertainty quantification and data science applications, where the forward computation is repeated many times with different inputs.The numerical simulation of complex systems modeled by PDEs is a challenging topic. It involves the choice of underlying equations, the selection of suitable numerical solvers, and implementation on specific hardware. Over the decades numerous software libraries have been developed to support this task. But adapting these libraries to the specific model and combining the various components in a low-level high-performance programming language requires a major development effort. This required effort has become significantly more challenging with the advent of heterogeneous mixed CPU/GPU devices on the path to exascale systems. Implementations need to be adapted for each individual device type in order to achieve good performance. As a consequence, developing new simulations at scale has become an ever more costly and time-intensive task.In this project we propose a different simulation paradigm, based on the use of high-productivity languages such as Python to describe the problem, and automatic code generation and just-in-time compilation to translate the high-level formulations into high-performance exascale-ready code. Based on the experience with the component software libraries Firedrake, FEniCS and Bempp, the investigators will build a toolchain for complex exascale simulations of PDEs on unstructured grids, using state of the art finite element and boundary element technologies. The research will include mathematical and algorithmic underpinnings, concrete software development for automatic code generation of low-level CPU/GPU kernels, high-productivity language interfaces, and the application to 21st century exascale challenge problems in the areas of battery storage systems, net-zero flight, and high-frequency wave propagation.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 15/12/21