Files
JuliaFEM.jl/docs/book
Jukka Aho 81f4f85f3e feat(gpu): Multi-GPU MPI benchmark with nodal assembly
Implements working GPU-accelerated nodal assembly with MPI domain decomposition:
- Matrix-free matvec operation on GPU (y = A*x without assembling A)
- 2-6× speedup vs CPU multi-threading (114-302 Mnodes/s)
- Scales to 343K nodes / 1M DOFs with acceptable communication overhead
- CSR format for GPU-friendly node-to-elements connectivity
- Global-to-local index remapping for partition consistency

Key components:
- benchmarks/multigpu_mpi_benchmark.jl: Full MPI+CUDA implementation (555 lines)
- benchmarks/multigpu_results_2025-11-09.md: Detailed performance analysis
- docs/book/gpu_benchmark_milestone.md: Comprehensive tutorial documentation

Performance results (NVIDIA RTX A2000 12GB, 2 MPI ranks):
- 30³ mesh: 114.84 Mnodes/s, 29% communication overhead
- 50³ mesh: 130.64 Mnodes/s, 61% communication overhead
- 70³ mesh: 301.83 Mnodes/s, 51% communication overhead

Architecture validated: Nodal assembly + matrix-free + GPU = fast and scalable.
Foundation complete for production FEM solver (needs: real stiffness, GMRES, preconditioner).
2025-11-09 15:59:00 +02:00
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title, subtitle, description, date, author, categories, keywords, audience, level, type, status
title subtitle description date author categories keywords audience level type status
The JuliaFEM Book A comprehensive manual mixing theory, software design, and personal experience Deep dive into FEM theory, design philosophy, and research directions 2025-11-09 Jukka Aho
theory
research
philosophy
fem theory
contact mechanics
design philosophy
research
researchers and theory enthusiasts expert book work in progress

The JuliaFEM Book

Audience: Advanced researchers, theory nerds, those who want to understand the "why" and "how" at a deep level. And Jukka.

This is the JuliaFEM Bible - a comprehensive manual mixing theory, philosophy, software design, and personal experience. It's educational, opinionated, and unapologetically deep.

What's Here

  • Mathematical Foundations: Lagrange basis functions, weak forms, contact mechanics
  • Design Philosophy: Why JuliaFEM exists, what problems it solves (and doesn't)
  • Technical Vision: Strategic mistakes from 2015-2019, lessons learned
  • Research Directions: Experimental ideas (nodal assembly, matrix-free, etc.)
  • Personal Notes: The journey, the failures, the "aha!" moments
  • Theory + Code: How mathematics becomes software

What's NOT Here

  • "How do I install?" (see docs/user/)
  • "How do I add a feature?" (see docs/contributor/)
  • Short answers (everything here is DEEP)

Philosophy

"Let me show you how I think about FEM."

This is:

  • Educational: Teach FEM through implementation
  • Personal: Written in Jukka's voice, reflecting 8+ years of experience
  • Opinionated: Strong views on what works and what doesn't
  • Comprehensive: From first principles to cutting-edge research
  • Honest: Documents failures as much as successes

We assume you:

  • Love mathematics AND programming
  • Want to understand WHY, not just HOW
  • Have time to read deeply
  • Are curious about unconventional approaches
  • Might be me, 5 years from now, trying to remember why I did this

Structure

Part I: Foundations

  • Finite Element Method (brief review)
  • Lagrange Basis Functions (deep dive)
  • Assembly and Solving
  • Contact Mechanics

Part II: Software Design

  • Type Stability and Performance
  • Zero-Allocation Design
  • Immutability and Composition
  • Field System Architecture

Part III: History and Vision

  • Strategic Mistakes (2015-2019)
  • Why JuliaFEM is Different
  • Contact Mechanics Focus
  • Laboratory Philosophy

Part IV: Research

  • Nodal Assembly (experimental)
  • Matrix-Free Methods
  • Automatic Differentiation
  • GPU Acceleration

Part V: The Journey

  • Personal Reflections
  • Lessons Learned
  • Future Directions
  • Open Questions

Reading Guide

  • For Theory: Start with Part I
  • For Design Rationale: Start with Part II
  • For History: Start with Part III
  • For Research Ideas: Start with Part IV
  • For Philosophy: Read Part V first, then everything else

Start here: Mathematical Foundations | Strategic Mistakes | Why JuliaFEM?