ILLINOISROCSTAR LLC — Department of Energy SBIR Phase II: 03b

Description

The lack of availability and usability, combined with the cost of development, ownership, and operation of high performance compute-ready simulation capabilities, are significant barriers to utilization of modeling and simulation for American industries. Most open-source, free technologies are difficult to use and/or are not validated to the extent needed for industrial applications. Many relatively easy to use commercial tools are prohibitively expensive to own. Modernizing, updating, and web-enabling simulation tools can produce capabilities that are both easy to use and openly available. The goal of this project is to modernize and extend the capabilities of an Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative-developed multiphysics simulation application and distribute it with an open-source license using a combination of in-house and externally available technologies. A web-enabled graphical interface will bring the technology to many more users. Once updated with new capabilities, a modern interface, and installation and usability improvements, the package will lower barriers to entry for high performance computing- based modeling and simulation. A legacy software platform for multiphysics simulation was carefully studied, modernized, upgraded, and additional features were implemented to improve its capabilities and ease-of-use. The software was tested for initial applications and the feasibility of this modernization effort was conclusively demonstrated. The software platform will be substantially extended and new features will be added to support complex multiphysics simulations. It will be comprehensively tested and debugged on private- and cloud-based high performance computing systems. Additional capabilities will be implemented to facilitate user interaction and ease-of-use. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: An openly available, easily extensible mul- tiphysics simulation software with a robust browser-based graphical interface will be developed to reduce barriers to entry for those endeavoring to utilize multiphysics simulations and incorporate them into design processes that leverage the nation’s extensive computing resources. To maintain competitiveness the product’s design focuses on deployment in integrated environments and pro- vides the ability to simulate coupled physical systems. Benefits include increased realism, decreased time-to-solution, increased manufacturing capability, reduced manufacturing cost, and a shortened product design cycle. The economic implications and range of commercial applications are large and promising. Modular, easy-to-use, high performance compute-ready simulation capabilities are the future of modeling and simulation for American industries and key to maintaining national competitiveness.