Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Implementation of a Lattice–Boltzmann method for numerical fluid mechanics using the nVIDIA CUDA technology

  • Special Issue Paper
  • Published:
Computer Science - Research and Development

Abstract

The Lattice–Boltzmann method (LBM) is a distribution-function based approach to numerical fluid mechanics. Due to the simple formulation of the underlying algorithm this method is well suited for parallelization and hardware acceleration using general purpose graphical processing units (GPGPU). Within this work LBM has been implemented in a new code with multi-GPU support and physically validated for a flow around a sphere. The performance analysis shows a remarkable speed-up of 1840% using 3 GPU’s in comparison to a single socket multi core CPU calculation. Moreover the validation for the test case chosen shows excellent agreement with available reference data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Benzi R, Succi S, Vergassola M (1992) The lattice–Boltzmann equation: theory and applications. Phys Rep 222:145–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chen S, Doolean GD (1998) Lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flows. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 30:329–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Li W, Wei X, Kaufman A (2003) Implementing lattice Boltzmann computation on graphics hardware. Vis Comput 19(7–8):444–456

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zhao Y (2008) Lattice Boltzmann based PDE solver on the GPU. Vis Comput 24:323–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hänel D (2004) Molekulare Gasdynamik, Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg

  6. Qian YH, d’Humieres D, Lallemand P (1992) Lattice BGK Models for Navier–Stokes Equation. Europhys Lett 17(6):479–484

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Ladd AJC (1994) Numerical simulations of particulate suspensions via a discretized Boltzmann equation, Part 1: Theoretical foundation. J Fluid Mechan 271:285–309

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Ladd AJC (1994) Numerical simulations of particulate suspensions via a discretized Boltzmann equation, Part 2: Numerical results. J Fluid Mechan 271:311–339

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Behrend O, Harris R, Warren PB (1994) Hydrodynamic behavior of lattice Boltzmann and lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook models. Phys Rev E 50(6):4586–4595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Warren PB (1997) Electrviscous transport problems via Lattice–Boltzmann. Int J Mod Phys C 8(4):889–898

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. NVIDIA Corporation: CUDA Programming Guide Version 1.1, http://www.nvidia.com, Mai 2008. Accessed 6 January 2009

  12. White FM (1991) Viscous fluid flow, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aerodynamics, Technische Universität München, Boltzmannstr. 15, 85748, Garching, Germany

    E. Riegel, T. Indinger & N. A. Adams

Authors
  1. E. Riegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Indinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. A. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Indinger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riegel, E., Indinger, T. & Adams, N.A. Implementation of a Lattice–Boltzmann method for numerical fluid mechanics using the nVIDIA CUDA technology . Comp. Sci. Res. Dev. 23, 241–247 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00450-009-0087-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00450-009-0087-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation