Multibody domain decomposition for parallel processing: a wave-based approach to handling interface dynamics

For many good reasons there is growing interest in ways to allow parallel processing of multibody dynamics problems. Some recent approaches include “Domain Decomposition” and “Divide and Conquer”. This paper explores a new approach, reported as work in progress, with initial, promising results. The strategy is an extension of work done on wave analysis of lumped systems in another context. In the approach, a larger system is subdivided into smaller subsystems, which are solved in parallel. Interconnection points are boundaries for each. Dynamic coupling across boundaries is handled in terms of transmitted and reflected motion components (or "waves"), in both directions, across the boundaries.