Parallel element-by-element scheme for 3-D finite element analysis of arch dam

For FEM solution of complex hydraulic structures, parallel method is usually needed to deal with large amount of numerical computations. In this paper, the authors present an EBE-PCG solver which adopt Jacobi-conditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. For data exchange, a working scheme in which only necessary data is needed to gather and scatter is submitted to make EBE method available for distributedmemory parallel computers. This method could dramatically reduce data exchange and consequently improve efficiency of parallel computing. At the same time, it is very easy to reach load balance for solving three-dimensional FEM. For any complicated three-dimensional structures, the algorithm can be convenient for automatically allocate the task in parallel computing. Based on this algorithm, the authors developed PFEM code using MPICH and C/C++ language. Numerical example of an Arch dam-foundation system demonstrates that PFEM is applicable for complicated three-dimensional underground structures.