XCompute: Advanced Systems for Complex Science & Engineering
Speaker: Graham J. Orr, Xplicit Computing, Inc.
Presentation
Abstract
Conventional CAE is approaching complexity limits; trends in computing suggest a paradigm shift towards hierarchy, regularity, and modularity. A server-client architecture for heterogeneous numerical computing is introduced, enabling scalable technical work-flows and concurrent user access. “Systems” representing varying abstraction layers of a problem are organized in a recursive tree, each managing its own configuration, references (including sub-systems), and server resources. System and geometry arguments are bound to algorithms to yield compute code and resulting executable kernel that outputs data objects that can feedback to system and/or geometry parameters and prepared for client access. A tree-like organization formalizes the project and tightens complex design iterations while leaving room for further sub-definition. Modern C/C++ meta-programming techniques are applied to numerical computing concepts, resulting in an extensible collaborative graphical simulation environment in about 50,000 lines of portable code. Unified data structures and algorithms enable more than order magnitude speed increase in computation and IO. Users can collaboratively build, execute, and manage CFD, FEA, or other numerical algorithms to be integrated as the larger PLM.
Biography
Graham Jaffe Orr is CEO and founder of Xplicit Computing, Inc., a numerical simulation enterprise focused on highly-integrated computing software. He leads engineering on the company’s core technology XCompute, initially conceived to meet emerging challenges within liquid rocket mechatronic, hypersonic propulsion, and advanced energy systems. He received a B.Sc. with dept honors in General Engineering from Harvey Mudd College and was team leader for the Honeywell Aerospace Induction Motor Rotor Electromagnetic Imaging Clinic Project. Graham held several internships at NASA JPL and GALCIT supporting Dawn, MSL, and Hypervelocity Impactor projects. Following his studies, he accepted a full-time engineering position at Blue Origin where he contributed to BE-3 rocket engine superstructure and component path-finding. In 2012, Graham helped start the liquid rocket engine program at Virgin Galactic as cognizant engineer for more than ten critical facility systems and consultant on the Newton-1 engine program. Realizing existing tools were ill-suited for emerging complex systems design & analysis, he started to conceive new infrastructure. With sustained guidance and discipline from senior scientists, he and a small team of graduate researchers at Stanford, MIT, and the Von Karman Institute methodically re-engineered the software information layers to leverage new functionalities in C++ and GPU computing.
Besides work, Graham enjoys a variety of cultural foods, music, and ideas. He is avidly working towards a future where technology empowers the people. He has been known to improvise on piano and ordinary objects, and believes our future depends on technological harmony with nature.