Computerized modeling techniques are used extensively in many fields of engineering analysis. The speed of computerized analysis can be increased significantly through effective use of a vector processor. Representative performance gains are shown by benchmark examples, and straightforward techniques for improving performance are described, in such applications as vehicle aerodynamics. This paper focuses on the IBM 3090's increased processing speed and additional memory capacity, and how these capabilities can be used to improve the performance of application software used for engineering anaylsis. First, the needs for faster processing and additional memory are related to the requirements of engineering application programs. These features are then described briefly at a conceptual level, followed by examples from actual benchmarks which show the potential performance gains. Finally, specific techniques for improving performance are presented and discussed.
Abstract