Parallel Computing in Multibody System Dynamics: Why, When, and How

This paper addresses three questions related to the use of parallel computing in multibody dynamics (MBD) simulation. The “why parallel computing?” question is answered based on the argument that in the upcoming decade parallel computing represents the main source of speed improvement in MBD simulation. The answer to “when is it relevant?” is built around the observation that MBD software users are increasingly interested in multi-physics problems that cross disciplinary boundaries and lead to large sets of equations. The “how?” question is addressed by providing an overview of the state of the art in parallel computing. Emphasis is placed on parallelization approaches and support tools specific to MBD simulation. Three MBD applications are presented where parallel computing has been used to increase problem size and/or reduce time to solution. The paper concludes with a summary of best practices relevant when mapping MBD solutions onto parallel computing hardware.