Verification and Diagnosis of Solver Convergence
Theory and Physics
Overview
Teacher! Today's topic is about solver convergence verification and diagnostics, right? What is it about?
Convergence criteria for nonlinear analysis. Monitoring residual norm and increment norm. Debugging methods for convergence difficulties.
Governing Equations
Discretization Methods
How do you actually solve these equations on a computer?
We use spatial discretization by the Finite Element Method (FEM). We assemble the element stiffness matrix and construct the global stiffness equation.
We transform to the weak form (variational form) and use formulation by the Galerkin method using test functions and shape functions. The choice of element type (low-order elements vs. higher-order elements, full integration vs. reduced integration) is directly linked to the trade-off between solution accuracy and computational cost.
Matrix Solution Algorithms
What exactly are matrix solution algorithms?
We solve the simultaneous equations by direct methods (LU decomposition, Cholesky decomposition) or iterative methods (CG method, GMRES method). For large-scale problems, preconditioned iterative methods are effective.
| Solver | Classification | Memory Usage | Applicable Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| LU decomposition | Direct Method | O(n²) | Small to Medium Scale |
| Cholesky decomposition | Direct Method (Symmetric Positive Definite) | O(n²) | Small to Medium Scale |
| PCG Method | Iterative Method | O(n) | Large Scale |
| GMRES method | Iterative Method | O(n·m) | Large Scale / Non-symmetric |
| AMG Preconditioner | Preprocessing | O(n) | Very Large Scale |
So, if you cut corners in the finite element method part, you'll pay for it later. I'll keep that in mind!
Implementation in Commercial Tools
So, what software can be used to perform solver convergence verification and diagnostics?
| Tool Name | Developer/Current | Main File Formats |
|---|---|---|
| MSC Nastran / NX Nastran | MSC Nastran (Hexagon), NX Nastran (Siemens Digital Industries Software) | .bdf, .dat, .f06, .op2, .pch |
| Abaqus FEA (SIMULIA) | Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA | .inp, .odb, .cae, .sta, .msg |
| Ansys Mechanical (formerly ANSYS Structural) | Ansys Inc. | .cdb, .rst, .db, .ans, .mac |
| Ansys Fluent | Ansys Inc. | .cas, .dat, .msh, .jou |
| Simcenter STAR-CCM+ | Siemens Digital Industries Software | .sim, .java, .csv |
| COMSOL Multiphysics | COMSOL AB | .mph |
| OpenFOAM | Open Source (OpenCFD/ESI, OpenFOAM Foundation) | Dictionary files (blockMeshDict, etc.), .foam |
Vendor Lineage and Product Integration History
Are the origins of each software quite dramatic?
MSC Nastran / NX Nastran
Next is about MSC Nastran, right? What's the content?
Developed in the 1960s as NASA Structural Analysis (NASTRAN). Commercialized by MSC Software, later UGS (now Siemens) derived NX Nastran. MSC was acquired by Hexagon AB in 2017.
Current Affiliation: MSC Nastran (Hexagon), NX Nastran (Siemens Digital Industries Software)
Abaqus FEA (SIMULIA)
What exactly is Abaqus FEA about?
Developed in 1978 by HKS (Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen). Acquired by Dassault Systèmes in 2005 and integrated into the SIMULIA brand.
Current Affiliation: Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA
Wait, wait, structural analysis... so can it also be used for cases like this?
Ansys Mechanical (formerly ANSYS Structural)
Tell me about "Ansys Mechanical"!
Developed in 1970 by Swanson Analysis Systems Inc. (SASI). Based on APDL (Ansys Parametric Design Language).
Current Affiliation: Ansys Inc.
Wow, the structural analysis talk is super interesting! Tell me more.
File Formats and Interoperability
Are there any points to note when transferring data between different software?