Scientific Computing

Sandia's computational sciences  program creates technologies for all of Sandia's strategic business units.  The program develops numerical methods for solving scientific and engineering problems, a software infrastructure for parallel computing, and techniques for distributed computing.  The work in numerical methods focuses on massively parallel computing.  A key challenge is to develop algorithms that scale to tens of thousands of processors. Software infrastructure research includes work in parallel operating systems, mesh generation, static and dynamic load balancing, visualization, and user interfaces.

Sandia has played a leading role in massively parallel computing for more than a decade.  During the past five years, Sandia and Intel have set many world records for computational speed.  Sandia is the only institution in the world that twice has won the Gordon Bell Prize, which is given annually for the most significant achievement in parallel computing.  We have won numerous other national awards and have received patents for their associated inventions.  Sandia's software is licensed worldwide.

Computational technologies are playing an important role in a wide range of Sandia programs.  Examples include simulating the performance of weapons, analyzing weapons safety issues, and computation-based design and manufacturing.  An important goal for the future is the creation of an easy-to-use design analysis environment that seamlessly integrates model development, analysis, and postprocessing.

Distributed computing technologies are critical to fulfilling our future computing requirements.  Sandia is pioneering new techniques that will leverage commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software to create a rich computing infrastructure.  The Computational Plant Project is creating many of the needed technologies.  A significant Computational environment is being developed.

Contact: Dave Womble
Sandia National Laboratories
P.O. Box 5800, MS-1110
Albuquerque, NM 87185-1110
Phone: 505-845-7471, Fax: 505-845-7442
Email: dewombl@sandia.gov