hpc.bw – Competence Platform for Software Efficiency and Supercomputing

hpc.bw – Competence Platform for Software Efficiency and High Performance Computing

Link to the project homepage: https://dtecbw.de/home/forschung/hsu/projekt-hpcbw/projekt-hpcbw

High Performance Computing (HPC) deals with the development of efficient software, taking into account algorithms, the use of appropriate programming languages and programming environments, as well as the code-specific optimization of computing instructions. As a result of advancing digitalization, HPC now represents an essential building block of science, research, and development, which many disciplines — both within and outside the armed forces — depend upon. Combinatorial optimization problems in logistics and production, numerical simulations in engineering or image analysis, and machine learning methods with real-time requirements in medical diagnostics are just three examples with high HPC relevance.

However, the potential of existing software solutions is often not fully exploited because computing resources are not always used efficiently. There could be various reasons for this, such as the time required for corresponding software optimizations, or the lack of HPC expertise. Ergo, there are gaps between the actual availability of computing power, the knowledge of computing potentials and the usability of the underlying systems. This results in reduced productivity when using digital research methods.

The aim of the hpc.bw project is to strengthen innovative cross-site HPC research at the universities of the armed forces and to accelerate the transfer of HPC knowledge to a wide range of disciplines in order to

·         sustainably strengthen research and development in the respective disciplines,

·         to promote interdisciplinary exchange between HPC-related problems,

·         derive new research questions for HPC from the various discipline-specific problems and answer them, and

·         to establish a joint HPC competence platform for users within and outside the armed forces.

To this end, a program will be set up, which will focus on disseminating information on HPC and offering contact points to HPC experts at the armed forces universities. This will be supplemented by further training on the use of HPC resources. In order to increase (research) productivity, software packages used by hpc.bw personnel are to be made more efficient and prepared for use on HPC platforms such as supercomputers.

These activities are supported by the establishment of a container-based HPC computing center. In order to ensure sustainability in HPC hardware and software, continuous evaluations of innovative HPC systems (in the context of benchmarks) as well as the support of HPC software projects with regard to software design, testing, etc., are planned.

Entries of the project in directories and specialized databases:

• Research map adult education

Seminar series „Computation & Data“

We establish a novel seminar series “Computation & Data” at HSU. The goal of this interdisciplinary seminar is to bring together researchers and foster exchange on the development of algorithms, methods and software with regard to (but not necessarily limited to):
• Scientific Computing & Computational Methods: Numerical methods and optimization, code coupling, etc., and their application to challenging discipline-specific problems
• Data science: machine learning, data analysis, statistical methods, etc., and their application to challenging discipline-specific problems
• Computational infrastructure & Hardware-aware programming: code optimization and parallelization, reconfigurable hardware, distributed/cloud/edge computing, etc.
The seminar series is scheduled for the last Thursday every month, 14:30-16:00, with 1-2 presentations, each 25 minutes, per session.

Overview of the lectures WT 2023

Seminar sessions WT2023

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If you are interested in joining, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject line „Subscription Seminar Computation & Data“.

Next Seminar: 23.02.2023 14.30 – 16.00 HSU H1 room 308 and via MS Teams

Link to seminar https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:[email protected]/1668524366704?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%225832f73f-b0fa-45a0-80d9-7e32bd7fa822%22,%22Oid%22:%226003e630-5d1e-4ccb-a8ab-e5d81b1bf8b1%22%7D

Presentation I: Hybrid Finite Element/Deep Neural Networks Methods for Accelerating Fluid-Dynamics Simulations

Nils Margenberg (HSU)

Presentation II: New developments within the Macro/Micro Coupling software MaMiCo for highly parallelized multiscale flow simulation

Louis Viot (HSU)

2nd Call for Projects for Performance Engineering

We cordially invite ALL departments at the Universities of the Armed Forces to apply with HPC-relevant
research proposals. In addition to outlines of individual research interests, there is also the possibility of
submitting proposals for planned or existing research projects.

Please fill in the application form and submit it by 14.02.2023 via e-mail to [email protected]
Please direct any queries to the same address or to Prof. Philipp Neumann, Tel. 040/6541-2723.

We look forward to your contributions!

2nd Call for projects for performance engineering

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Past call

Call for projects for performance engineering

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The following projects are supported by hpc.bw:

• Optimization of an IGA Code in MATLAB for parallel computing (Dr.–Ing. Georgios Michaloudis, UniBw M)
• Monte Carlo simulations of real fluids (Univ.-Prof. Dr.–Ing. Karsten Meier, HSU)
• Enabling High-Throughput Studies of Reactive Materials (Christopher Lange, HSU)
• benEFIT- Numerical simulation of non-destructive testing in concrete (Fabian Dethof, HSU)

Optimization of an IGA Code in MATLAB for parallel computing

Dr.–Ing. Georgios Michaloudis (Professorship Structural Analysis, UniBw M)

Goal of this project within the framework of hpc.bw is the optimization of the performance of an In-House MATLAB Code, which is being developed from our researchers. The general area of application of the Code is Computational Structural Mechanics by deploying the Isogeometric Analysis framework. Novel computational methods are being permanently deployed aiming at investigations in the fields of Fracture Mechanics and of the analysis of shell and membrane structures. The Code can perform static as well as dynamic analyses. Weiterlesen

Monte Carlo simulations of real fluids

Univ.-Prof. Dr.–Ing. Karsten Meier (Professorship Thermodynamics, HSU)

Thermodynamic properties of gases and liquids over wide ranges of temperature and pressure can be determined by molecular-dynamics or Monte Carlo simulations. In such simulations, the interactions between molecules are almost exclusively modeled by simple effective pair potentials, such as the Lennard-Jones potential. With such an approach, accurate predictions are only possible in small regions of temperature and pressure.  Our research aims at the very accurate prediction of thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria of noble gases, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide using sophisticated ab initio potentials, which are derived from quantum-chemical calculations of the interaction energies, by semi-classical Monte Carlo simulations. Weiterlesen

Enabling High-Throughput Studies of Reactive Materials

Christopher Lange (Department of Mechanical Engineering, HSU)

The project aims at establishing an optimized simulation framework for the atomistic modeling of impact-induced chemical reactions in new weapon materials. In our mechano-chemical research we combine atomic and molecular dynamics simulations. Strain-dependent reaction paths are determined with static ab initio simulations and coupled with impact-induced strains found by molecular dynamics. Together with the experts of hpc.bw we want to increase our research efficiency through better connections of our different simulations, their optimization for the HPC environment, and improved data management. Weiterlesen

benEFIT- Numerical simulation of non-destructive testing in concrete

Fabian Dethof (Professorship Engineering Materials and Building Preservation, HSU)

In order to assess the current state of concrete structures like a buildings or bridges without causing any damage, different non-destructive testing (NDT) methods can be performed. Some of those methods are based on elastic wave propagation like the ultrasonic testing (UT) or the impact echo (IE) method. The impact echo method is used to measure the resonance frequency of a plate-like structure. Therefore, a mechanical impact is generated (often manually) and the resulting waveform is measured at the structure’s surface just a few centimetres away from the impact point. Weiterlesen

The following projects are supported by hpc.bw:

• C-STAR Electric Propulsion Demonstrator Multiphysics Modeling (Maximilian Maigler, UniBw M)
• DigiTaKS* Learning behavior of students in dealing with digital media and tools (Prof. Dr. Sabine Schmidt-Lauff and Dr. Therese Rosemann, HSU)

C-STAR Electric Propulsion Demonstrator Multiphysics Modeling

Maximilian Maigler (Professorship for Plasma Technology and basics of Electrical Engineering, UniBw M)

The C-STAR experimental thruster is a novel electric propulsion system developed at the Laboratory of Plasma Technology of the UniBw Munich. It is a vacuum arc thruster, which employs a strong direct-current arc to ionize a propellant traversing the arc. Using permanent magnets, the heavy ions are accelerated and produce thrust. The specific impulse and therefore efficiency can be up to 30 times higher compared to conventional chemical thrusters. In order to estimate the performance and lifetime of this experimental thruster, we setup and carry out holistic multiphysics simulations of the entire system. The C-STAR thruster will be operating on board the SeRanis satellite and tested for orbital attitude control.

DigiTaKS* Learning behavior of students in dealing with digital media and tools

Prof. Dr. Sabine Schmidt-Lauff and Dr. Therese Rosemann (Professorship for continuing education and lifelong learning, HSU)

The cooperation of the project Hpc.bw (Competence Platform for Software Efficiency and Supercomputing) and the research project DigiTaKS* (Digital competences for study and work – development of a model for transformative digital competences for students) aims at the implementation of an automated, individualized result feedback on (digital) learning and usage behavior. As part of the DigiTaKS* project, approximately 400 students will be provided with hard- and software. Accordingly, the learning behavior in dealing with digital media and tools of students is collected via a longitudinal diary study over 10 days. Hpc.bw provides software to facilitate individualized, automated results feedback for students of the DigiTaKS* project. The students of the research project will be provided with an individualized learning and usage profile in dealing with digital media and tools. The individual feedback promotes reflexivity and sensitivity for one’s own learning behavior, so that the students recognize specifics of individual learning and patterns of use (habits) studying and working with digital media and tools. By comparing the individual results of the students with the characteristics of the entire group of students in the DigiTaKS* project, they receive feedback on their own digital learning and usage behavior as well as habits. The results of the individual feedback can increase students‘ sensitivity to individual learning and development needs. The cooperation is integrated in the project-related habilitation of Dr. Therese Rosemann.

Do you have any questions about the project? You can reach the project team at

[email protected]