A parallel environment for three-dimensional finite element analysis

A three-dimensional parallel environment for finite element method (FEM) analysis is presented. This environment is comprised by integrated computer programs, each of one responsible for a different task: pre-processing, mesh generation, structural analysis and post-processing. In this work, this entire system is presented, with more emphasis to volumetric mesh generation and FEM analysis that could be performed in a parallel way. A program named FRANC3D (3D Fracture Analysis Code) [1][2] is used in the preprocessing step. The volumetric mesh is generated using a algorithm that combines an advancing front technique with a recursive spatial decomposition technique, in this case an octree, to define the internal nodes, element sizes, and mesh transition [3]. A strategy to parallelize this algorithm is also presented. An existing finite element method program, called FEMOOP (Finite Element Method - Object Oriented Programming) [4] has been adapted to implement the parallel features. The parallel analysis can be performed using two different techniques: a domain decomposition technique or an element-by-element scheme. Both are presented in this work. Finally, analyses of three-dimensional models are used to test the performance and reliability of this parallel system.