Parallelism in interactive operations in finite-element simulation

The parallelizing of interactive operations that are part of the finite-element simulation of electromagnetic fields is examined. The total solution time in finite-element analysis is the time assigned to (1) preprocessing, (2) assembling and solving the matrix equation, and (3) postprocessing the solution. In the analysis the tasks of pre- and postprocessing are interactive, with the user sitting at a terminal and specifying various parameters. Two computer routines are identified as the most frequently used in an interactive setting: one identifies a triangle pointed out by a user, and the other identifies a node pointed out by a user. Procedures for parallelizing them are given. A way of parallelizing the plotting of equipotentials and drawing the device, which are frequently required in interactive use, is also presented. It is shown that this method may have more to offer in reducing the nuisance of waiting for certain computer responses compared with the more commonly adopted approach of parallelizing the solver section of a finite-element program