Title
The Distributed Diagonal Force Decomposition Method For Parallelizing Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Abstract
Parallelization is an effective way to reduce the computational time needed for molecular dynamics simulations. We describe a new parallelization method, the distributed-diagonal force decomposition method, with which we extend and improve the existing force decomposition methods. Our new method requires less data communication during molecular dynamics simulations than replicated data and current force decomposition methods, increasing the parallel efficiency. It also dynamically load-balances the processors' computational load throughout the simulation. The method is readily implemented in existing molecular dynamics codes and it has been incorporated into the CHARMM program, allowing its immediate use in conjunction with the many molecular dynamics simulation techniques that are already present in the program. We also present the design of the Force Decomposition Machine, a cluster of personal computers and networks that is tailored to running molecular dynamics simulations using the distributed diagonal force decomposition method. The design is expandable and provides various degrees of fault resilience. This approach is easily adaptable to computers with Graphics Processing Units because it is independent of the processor type being used. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 32: 3005-3013, 2011
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1002/jcc.21882
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY
Keywords
Field
DocType
parallelization, parallel methods, force decomposition, parallel molecular dynamics simulations, dynamic load balancing
Diagonal,Graphics,Computer science,Parallel computing,Decomposition method (constraint satisfaction),Computational science,Software,Molecular dynamics,Dynamic load balancing
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
32
14
0192-8651
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.40
14
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Urban Borstnik1263.43
Benjamin T Miller2294.65
Bernard R. Brooks358681.32
Dusanka Janezic420534.72