FAC¶

FAC is a parallel fast adaptive composite grid solver for finite volume, cell-centred discretizations of smooth diffusion coefficient problems. To be precise, it is a FACx algorithm since the patch solves consist of only relaxation sweeps. For details of the basic overall algorithms, see [McCo1989]. Algorithmic particularities include formation of non-Galerkin coarse-grid operators (i.e., coarse-grid operators underlying refinement patches are automatically generated) and non-stored linear/constant interpolation/restriction operators. Implementation particularities include a processor redistribution of the generated coarse-grid operators so that intra-level communication between adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) levels during the solve phase is kept to a minimum. This redistribution is hidden from the user.

The user input is essentially a linear system describing the composite operator, and the refinement factors between the AMR levels. To form this composite linear system, the AMR grid is described using semi-structured grid parts. Each AMR level grid corresponds to a separate part so that this level grid is simply a collection of boxes, all with the same refinement factor, i.e., it is a struct grid. However, several restrictions are imposed on the patch (box) refinements. First, a refinement box must cover all underlying coarse cells- i.e., refinement of a partial coarse cell is not permitted. Also, the refined/coarse indices must follow a mapping: with $$[r_1,r_2,r_3]$$ denoting the refinement factor and $$[a_1,a_2,a_3] \times [b_1,b_2,b_3]$$ denoting the coarse subbox to be refined, the mapping to the refined patch is

$[r_1*a_1,r_2*a_2,r_3*a_3] \times [r_1*b_1+ r_1-1, r_2*b_2+ r_2-1,r_3*b_3+ r_3-1].$

With the AMR grid constructed under these restrictions, the composite matrix can be formed. Since the AMR levels correspond to semi-structured grid parts, the composite matrix is a semi-structured matrix consisting of structured components within each part, and unstructured components describing the coarse-to-fine/fine-to-coarse connections. The structured and unstructured components can be set using stencils and the HYPRE_SStructGraphAddEntries routine, respectively. The matrix coefficients can be filled after setting these non-zero patterns. Between each pair of successive AMR levels, the coarse matrix underlying the refinement patch must be the identity and the corresponding rows of the rhs must be zero. These can performed using routines HYPRE_SStructFACZeroCFSten (to zero off the stencil values reaching from coarse boxes into refinement boxes), HYPRE_SStructFACZeroFCSten (to zero off the stencil values reaching from refinement boxes into coarse boxes), HYPRE_SStructFACZeroAMRMatrixData (to set the identity at coarse grid points underlying a refinement patch), and HYPRE_SStructFACZeroAMRVectorData (to zero off a vector at coarse grid points underlying a refinement patch). These routines can simplify the user’s matrix setup. For example, consider two successive AMR levels with the coarser level consisting of one box and the finer level consisting of a collection of boxes. Rather than distinguishly setting the stencil values and the identity in the appropriate locations, the user can set the stencil values on the whole coarse grid using the HYPRE_SStructMatrixSetBoxValues routine and then zero off the appropriate values using the above zeroing routines.

The coarse matrix underlying these patches are algebraically generated by operator-collapsing the refinement patch operator and the fine-to-coarse coefficients (this is why stencil values reaching out of a part must be zeroed). This matrix is re-distributed so that each processor has all of its coarse-grid operator.

To solve the coarsest AMR level, a PFMG V cycle is used. Note that a minimum of two AMR levels are needed for this solver.