Algebraic multigrid and 4th‐order discrete‐difference equations of incompressible fluid flow

This paper investigates the effectiveness of two different Algebraic Multigrid (AMG) approaches to the solution of 4th‐order discrete‐difference equations for incompressible fluid flow (in this case for a discrete, scalar, stream‐function field). One is based on a classical, algebraic multigrid, method (C‐AMG) the other is based on a smoothed‐aggregation method for 4th‐order problems (SA‐AMG). In the C‐AMG case, the inter‐grid transfer operators are enhanced using Jacobi relaxation. In the SA‐AMG case, they are improved using a constrained energy optimization of the coarse‐grid basis functions. Both approaches are shown to be effective for discretizations based on uniform, structured and unstructured, meshes. They both give good convergence factors that are largely independent of the mesh size/bandwidth. The SA‐AMG approach, however, is more costly both in storage and operations. The Jacobi‐relaxed C‐AMG approach is faster, by a factor of between 2 and 4 for two‐dimensional problems, even though its reduction factors are inferior to those of SA‐AMG. For non‐uniform meshes, the accuracy of this particular discretization degrades from 2nd to 1st order and the convergence factors for both methods then become mesh dependent. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multicolor low‐rank preconditioner for general sparse linear systems

This article presents a multilevel parallel preconditioning technique for solving general large sparse linear systems of equations. Subdomain coloring is invoked to reorder the coefficient matrix by multicoloring the adjacency graph of the subdomains, resulting in a two‐level block diagonal structure. A full binary tree structure $\mathrm{??}$ is then built to facilitate the construction of the preconditioner. A key property that is exploited is the observation that the difference between the inverse of the original matrix and that of its block diagonal approximation is often well approximated by a low‐rank matrix. This property and the block diagonal structure of the reordered matrix lead to a multicolor low‐rank (MCLR) preconditioner. The construction procedure of the MCLR preconditioner follows a bottom‐up traversal of the tree $\mathrm{??}$. All irregular matrix computations, such as ILU factorizations and related triangular solves, are restricted to leaf nodes where these operations can be performed independently. Computations in nonleaf nodes only involve easy‐to‐optimize dense matrix operations. In order to further reduce the number of iteration of the Preconditioned Krylov subspace procedure, we combine MCLR with a few classical block‐relaxation techniques. Numerical experiments on various test problems are proposed to illustrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach for solving large sparse symmetric and nonsymmetric linear systems.     

Similarity of block diagonal and block triangular matrices

It is shown that if a block triangular matrix is similar to its block diagonal part, then the similarity matrix can be chosen of the block triangular form. An analogous statement is proved for equivalent matrices. For the simplest case of 2×2 block matrices these results were obtained by W.Roth [1]. It is shown that all these results do not admit a generalization for the infinite dimensional case.     

An efficient algebraic multigrid method for quadratic discretizations of linear elasticity problems on some typical anisotropic meshes in three dimensions

The quality of the mesh used in the finite element discretizations will affect the efficiency of solving the discreted linear systems. The usual algebraic solvers except multigrid method do not consider the effect of the grid geometry and the mesh quality on their convergence rates. In this paper, we consider the hierarchical quadratic discretizations of three‐dimensional linear elasticity problems on some anisotropic hexahedral meshes and present a new two‐level method, which is weakly independent of the size of the resulting problems by using a special local block Gauss–Seidel smoother, that is LBGS_v iteration when used for vertex nodes or LBGS_m iteration for midside nodes. Moreover, we obtain the efficient algebraic multigrid (AMG) methods by applying DAMG (AMG based on distance matrix) or DAMG‐PCG (PCG with DAMG as a preconditioner) to the solution of the coarse level equation. The resulting AMG methods are then applied to a practical example as a long beam. The numerical results verify the efficiency and robustness of the proposed AMG algorithms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of overlapping Schwarz methods and block preconditioners for saddle point problems

Three domain decomposition methods for saddle point problems are introduced and compared. The first two are block‐diagonal and block‐triangular preconditioners with diagonal blocks approximated by an overlapping Schwarz technique with positive definite local and coarse problems. The third is an overlapping Schwarz preconditioner based on indefinite local and coarse problems. Numerical experiments show that while all three methods are numerically scalable, the last method is almost always the most efficient. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards an optimal condition number of certain augmented Lagrangian‐type saddle‐point matrices

We present an analysis for minimizing the condition number of nonsingular parameter‐dependent 2 × 2 block‐structured saddle‐point matrices with a maximally rank‐deficient (1,1) block. The matrices arise from an augmented Lagrangian approach. Using quasidirect sums, we show that a decomposition akin to simultaneous diagonalization leads to an optimization based on the extremal nonzero eigenvalues and singular values of the associated block matrices. Bounds on the condition number of the parameter‐dependent matrix are obtained, and we demonstrate their tightness on some numerical examples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A note on block preconditioner for generalized saddle point matrices with highly singular (1,1) block

In this paper, we present a block triangular preconditioner for generalized saddle point matrices whose coefficient matrices have singular (1,1) blocks. Theoretical analysis shows that all the eigenvalues of the preconditioned matrix are strongly clustered when choosing an optimal parameter. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the presented preconditioner.     

Block triangular preconditioning for time-dependent Stokes control

We consider the numerical solution of time-dependent Stokes control problems, an important class of flow control problems within the field of PDE-constrained optimization. The problems we examine lead to large and sparse matrix systems which, with suitable rearrangement, can be written in block tridiagonal form, with the diagonal blocks given by saddle point systems. Using previous results for preconditioning PDE-constrained optimization and fluid dynamics problems, along with well-studied saddle point theory, we construct a block triangular preconditioner for the matrix systems. Numerical experiments verify the effectiveness of our solver. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Analysis of algebraic multigrid parameters for two-dimensional steady-state heat diffusion equations

In this work, it is provided a comparison for the algebraic multigrid (AMG) and the geometric multigrid (GMG) parameters, for Laplace and Poisson two-dimensional equations in square and triangular grids. The analyzed parameters are the number of: inner iterations in the solver, grids and unknowns. For the AMG, the effects of the grid reduction factor and the strong dependence factor in the coarse grid on the necessary CPU time are studied. For square grids the finite difference method is used, and for the triangular grids, the finite volume one. The results are obtained with the use of an adapted AMG1R6 code of Ruge and Stüben. For the AMG the following components are used: standard coarsening, standard interpolation, correction scheme (CS), lexicographic Gauss–Seidel and V-cycle. Comparative studies among the CPU time of the GMG, AMG and singlegrid are made. It was verified that: (1) the optimum inner iterations is independent of the multigrid, however it is dependent on the grid; (2) the optimum number of grids is the maximum number; (3) AMG was shown to be sensitive to both the variation of the grid reduction factor and the strong dependence factor in the coarse grid; (4) in square grids, the GMG CPU time is 20% of the AMG one.     

Algebraic multigrid,mixed‐order interpolation,and incompressible fluid flow

This paper presents the results of numerical experiments on the use of equal‐order and mixed‐order interpolations in algebraic multigrid (AMG) solvers for the fully coupled equations of incompressible fluid flow. Several standard test problems are addressed for Reynolds numbers spanning the laminar range. The range of unstructured meshes spans over two orders of problem size (over one order of mesh bandwidth). Deficiencies in performance are identified for AMG based on equal‐order interpolations (both zero‐order and first‐order). They take the form of poor, fragile, mesh‐dependent convergence rates. The evidence suggests that a degraded representation of the inter‐field coupling in the coarse‐grid approximation is the cause. Mixed‐order interpolation (first‐order for the vectors, zero‐order for the scalars) is shown to address these deficiencies. Convergence is then robust, independent of the number of coarse grids and (almost) of the mesh bandwidth. The AMG algorithms used are reviewed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Block ILU Preconditioners for a Nonsymmetric Block-Tridiagonal M-Matrix

We propose block ILU (incomplete LU) factorization preconditioners for a nonsymmetric block-tridiagonal M-matrix whose computation can be done in parallel based on matrix blocks. Some theoretical properties for these block ILU factorization preconditioners are studied and then we describe how to construct them effectively for a special type of matrix. We also discuss a parallelization of the preconditioner solver step used in nonstationary iterative methods with the block ILU preconditioners. Numerical results of the right preconditioned BiCGSTAB method using the block ILU preconditioners are compared with those of the right preconditioned BiCGSTAB using a standard ILU factorization preconditioner to see how effective the block ILU preconditioners are.     

Optimal parameters in the HSS‐like methods for saddle‐point problems

For the Hermitian and skew‐Hermitian splitting iteration method and its accelerated variant for solving the large sparse saddle‐point problems, we compute their quasi‐optimal iteration parameters and the corresponding quasi‐optimal convergence factors for the more practical but more difficult case that the (1, 1)‐block of the saddle‐point matrix is not algebraically equivalent to the identity matrix. In addition, the algebraic behaviors and the clustering properties of the eigenvalues of the preconditioned matrices with respect to these two iterations are investigated in detail, and the formulas for computing good iteration parameters are given under certain principle for optimizing the distribution of the eigenvalues. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Block‐triangular preconditioners for PDE‐constrained optimization

In this paper we investigate the possibility of using a block‐triangular preconditioner for saddle point problems arising in PDE‐constrained optimization. In particular, we focus on a conjugate gradient‐type method introduced by Bramble and Pasciak that uses self‐adjointness of the preconditioned system in a non‐standard inner product. We show when the Chebyshev semi‐iteration is used as a preconditioner for the relevant matrix blocks involving the finite element mass matrix that the main drawback of the Bramble–Pasciak method—the appropriate scaling of the preconditioners—is easily overcome. We present an eigenvalue analysis for the block‐triangular preconditioners that gives convergence bounds in the non‐standard inner product and illustrates their competitiveness on a number of computed examples. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conservative solution of the Fokker–Planck equation for stochastic chemical reactions

In this paper we discuss multigrid methods for ill-conditioned symmetric positive definite block Toeplitz matrices. Our block Toeplitz systems are general in the sense that the individual blocks are not necessarily Toeplitz, but we restrict our attention to blocks of small size. We investigate how transfer operators for prolongation and restriction have to be chosen such that our multigrid algorithms converge quickly. We point out why these transfer operators can be understood as block matrices as well and how they relate to the zeroes of the generating matrix function. We explain how our new algorithms can also be combined efficiently with the use of a natural coarse grid operator. We clearly identify a class of ill-conditioned block Toeplitz matrices for which our algorithmic ideas are suitable. In the final section we present an outlook to well-conditioned block Toeplitz systems and to problems of vector Laplace type. In the latter case the small size blocks can be interpreted as degrees of freedom associated with a node. A large number of numerical experiments throughout the article confirms convincingly that our multigrid solvers lead to optimal order convergence. AMS subject classification (2000) 65N55, 65F10     

Parallel coarse‐grid selection

Algebraic multigrid (AMG) is a powerful linear solver with attractive parallel properties. A parallel AMG method depends on efficient, parallel implementations of the coarse‐grid selection algorithms and the restriction and prolongation operator construction algorithms. In the effort to effectively and quickly select the coarse grid, a number of parallel coarsening algorithms have been developed. This paper examines the behaviour of these algorithms in depth by studying the results of several numerical experiments. In addition, new parallel coarse‐grid selection algorithms are introduced and tested. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On some versions of the element agglomeration AMGe method

The present paper deals with element‐based algebraic multigrid (AMGe) methods that target linear systems of equations coming from finite element discretizations of elliptic partial differential equations. The individual element information (element matrices and element topology) is the main input to construct the AMG hierarchy. We study a number of variants of the spectral agglomerate AMGe method. The core of the algorithms relies on element agglomeration utilizing the element topology (built recursively from fine to coarse levels). The actual selection of the coarse degrees of freedom is based on solving a large number of local eigenvalue problems. Additionally, we investigate strategies for adaptive AMG as well as multigrid cycles that are more expensive than the V‐cycle utilizing simple interpolation matrices and nested conjugate gradient (CG)‐based recursive calls between the levels. The presented algorithms are illustrated with an extensive set of experiments based on a matlab implementation of the methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kaporin-Kon’shin’s method of parallel implementation of block preconditioners for asymmetric matrices in problems of filtration of a multicomponent mixture in a porous medium

The ILU class preconditioners (ILU(0), ILU(1), ILUT) employed for iterative algorithms for non-symmetrical linear sparse matrix systems are considered. Test matrices used in this study originate from discretization of systems of partial differential equations describing multicomponent fluid flows in porous media. A new parallel algorithm for block ILU factorization is suggested. This algorithm demonstrates a good convergence and significant speed-up in comparison with sequential algorithms. New integrated approach was tested on the wide range of matrices resulted from real hydrodynamic simulations of oil fields of Western Siberia and demonstrated significant reduction in computational time.     

Block preconditioners for linear systems arising from multiscale collocation with compactly supported RBFs

Symmetric collocation methods with RBFs allow approximation of the solution of a partial differential equation, even if the right‐hand side is only known at scattered data points, without needing to generate a grid. However, the benefit of a guaranteed symmetric positive definite block system comes at a high computational cost. This cost can be alleviated somewhat by considering compactly supported RBFs and a multiscale technique. But the condition number and sparsity will still deteriorate with the number of data points. Therefore, we study certain block diagonal and triangular preconditioners. We investigate ideal preconditioners and determine the spectra of the preconditioned matrices before proposing more practical preconditioners based on a restricted additive Schwarz method with coarse grid correction. Numerical results verify the effectiveness of the preconditioners. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On regularity of block triangular fuzzy matrices

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the regularity of block triangular fuzzy matrices. This leads to characterization of idempotency of a class of triangular Toeplitz matrices. As an application, the existence of group inverse of a block triangular fuzzy matrix is discussed. Equivalent conditions for a regular block triangular fuzzy matrix to be expressed as a sum of regular block fuzzy matrices is derived. Further, fuzzy relational equations consistency is studied.     

Generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting iteration methods for saddle‐point linear systems

A generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting iteration method is presented for solving non‐Hermitian linear systems with strong skew‐Hermitian parts. We study the convergence of the generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting iteration methods for non‐Hermitian positive definite linear systems, as well as spectrum distribution of the preconditioned matrix with respect to the preconditioner induced from the generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting. Then the generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting iteration method is applied to non‐Hermitian positive semidefinite saddle‐point linear systems, and we prove its convergence under suitable restrictions on the iteration parameters. By specially choosing the values of the iteration parameters, we obtain a few of the existing iteration methods in the literature. Numerical results show that the generalized skew‐Hermitian triangular splitting iteration methods are effective for solving non‐Hermitian saddle‐point linear systems with strong skew‐Hermitian parts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.