Scientific Computing Research Environments in the Mathematical Sciences

University Of Alabama In Huntsville, Huntsville AL

Investigators

Abstract

The support from this grant allows the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Alabama in Huntsville to purchase and assemble on-site a 17-node, 34-processor Scyld Beowulf Cluster using commodity personal computer technology. This equipment is dedicated to the support of computationally intensive applied mathematics research. Major thrust areas of this research program include: Robust feedback control of fluid flows and combustion, bifurcation analysis for large scale systems, numerical simulation of relativistic plasma and the modeling and simulation of epidemics transmission. The projects specifically included in the grant proposal are: (1) Robust feedback control of fluids and combustion systems. (2) Bifurcation analysis for large problems: algorithms, software, applications to MEMS. (3) Detailed numerical calculation of the equation of state for a relativistic pair plasma. (4) Modeling impacts of environment changes on transmission of mosquito-borne epidemics. They develop complex mathematical models, feedback control methods computational algorithms and sofware for applications such as combustion instabilty for novel combustors, reducing drag/increasing lift for better maneuverability of vehicles, dynamics of Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) products, dynamics of mosquito borne diseases and impacts of environmental changes, and astrophysical simulations of high energy sources. The impact of these projects will be felt across a broad spectrum of problems in science and engineering and in the training of a new generation of applied mathematicians skilled in parallel computation. Additionally, the machines will greatly enhance departmental research and education infrastructure at all levels. They will be made available to all departmental faculty, undergraduate and graduate students.