Evaluation of automatic domain partitioning algorithms for parallel finite element analysis

This paper studies and compares the domain partitioning algorithms presented by Farhat,¹ Al-Nasra and Nguyen,² Malone,³ and Simon⁴/Hsieh et al.^{5, 6} for load balancing in parallel finite element analysis. Both the strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms are discussed. Some possible improvements to the partitioning algorithms are also suggested and studied. A new approach for evaluating domain partitioning algorithms is described. Direct numerical comparisons among the considered partitioning algorithms are then conducted using this suggested approach with both regular and irregular finite element meshes of different order and dimensionality. The test problems used in the comparative studies along with the results obtained provide a set of benchmark examples for other researchers to evaluate both new and existing partitioning algorithms. In addition, interactive graphics tools used in this work to facilitate the evaluation and comparative studies are presented.