Method of simulating impact events in a multi-processor computer system

1. A computer-implemented method of simulating an impact event in a finite element analysis used for assisting users to design or improve one or more structures, the method comprising:

receiving a finite element analysis model of one or more structures subject to an impact event in a computer system with a plurality of processing units coupled thereon, wherein the finite element analysis model contains a plurality of contact interfaces;

dividing a finite element analysis model into a plurality of domains containing at least a first domain and a second domain in the computer system, the first domain is associated with a first processing unit while the second domain is associated with a second processing unit of the processing units;

determining, in the computer system, a group-able correlation table that correlates each of the contact interfaces, with one or more of the domains, wherein said group-able correlation table is used for determining which ones of said contact interfaces are allowed to be processed in parallel;

performing, in the computer system, a time-marching simulation of the impact event having a plurality of solution cycles;

at each of the solution cycles,

creating and sending a first data communication message from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, wherein the first data communication message contains data that are allowed to be grouped together to be processed in parallel according to the group-able correlation table;

performing a plurality of computations for the respective contact interfaces of the finite element analysis at each of the first and second processing units with data received in the first data communication message;

creating and sending a second data communication message in a reverse direction of the first data communication message, the second message is configured to transmit data resulted from the computations; and

displaying results of the simulation on a monitor coupled to the computer system after all of the solution cycles have been computed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more structures comprises an automobile.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the impact event comprises a car collision.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system contains at least two processing units.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system comprises at least one computer, each having more than one central processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system contains more than one computer, each having at least one central processor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the central processor contains at least one processing core.

8. A non-transitory computer usable storage medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform an impact event simulation in a finite element analysis used for assisting users to design or improve one or more structures by a method comprising:

receiving a finite element analysis model of one or more structures subject to an impact event in the computer system with a plurality of processing units coupled thereon, wherein the finite element analysis model contains a plurality of contact interfaces;

dividing a finite element analysis model into a plurality of domains containing at least a first domain and a second domain in the computer system, the first domain is associated with a first processing unit while the second domain is associated with a second processing unit of the processing units;

determining, in the computer system, a group-able correlation table that correlates each of the contact interfaces, with one or more of the domains, wherein said group-able correlation table is used for determining which ones of said contact interfaces are allowed to be processed in parallel;

performing, in the computer system, a time-marching simulation of the impact event having a plurality of solution cycles;

at each of the solution cycles,

creating and sending a first data communication message from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, wherein the first data communication message contains data that are allowed to be grouped together to be processed in parallel according to the group-able correlation table;

performing a plurality of computations for the respective contact interfaces of the finite element analysis at each of the first and second processing units with data received in the first data communication message;

creating and sending a second data communication message in a reverse direction of the first data communication message, the second message is configured to transmit data resulted from the computations; and

displaying results of the simulation on a monitor coupled to the computer system after all of the solution cycles have been computed.

9. A system for simulating an impact event in a finite element analysis used for assisting users to design or improve one or more structures, the system comprising:

a main memory for storing computer readable code for a finite element analysis application module;

a plurality of processing units coupled to the main memory, said processing units executing the computer readable code in the main memory to cause the finite element analysis application module to perform operations by a method of:

receiving a finite element analysis model of one or more structures subject to an impact event, wherein the finite element analysis model contains a plurality of contact interfaces;

dividing a finite element analysis model into a plurality of domains containing at least a first domain and a second domain, the first domain is associated with a first processing unit while the second domain is associated with a second processing unit of the processing units;

determining a group-able correlation table that correlates each of the contact interfaces, with one or more of the domains, wherein said group-able correlation table is used for determining which ones of said contact interfaces are allowed to be processed in parallel;

performing a time-marching simulation of the impact event having a plurality of solution cycles;

at each of the solution cycles,

creating and sending a first data communication message from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, wherein the first data communication message contains data that are allowed to be grouped together to be processed in parallel according to the group-able correlation table;

performing a plurality of computations for the respective contact interfaces of the finite element analysis at each of the first and second processing units with data received in the first data communication message;

creating and sending a second data communication message in a reverse direction of the first data communication message, the second message is configured to transmit data resulted from the computations; and

displaying results of the simulation on a monitor coupled to the system after all of the solution cycles have been computed.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system contains at least two processing units.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system comprises at least one computer, each having more than one central processor.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system contains more than one computer, each having at least one central processor.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the central processor contains at least one processing core.