A graphical mini supercomputer will be purchased. This computer has vector and parallel processing capabilities which are the focus of two of our research projects. Furthermore, vector and parallel processing capabilities will make feasible the large scale scientific computations which are an essential feature of all of the projects described herein. The 2 CPU system configuration offers multi-processing features and will permit single users to achieve speeds up to a sizeable fraction of the speed of a CRAY- XMP. Multi-user capabilities ensure ready access to the system. The equipment will be dedicated to support research in computational mechanics and will be used in beginning and ongoing research projects including: I) Adaptive ALE Finite Elements for Material Forming Simulations (Liu, Belytschko) II) High Temperature Heterogeneous Materials (Keer, Moran) III) Adaptive Mode Decomposition Methods (Belytschko) IV) Accurate Three-Dimensional Calculations for Advancing Slip Zones in the Earth's Crust (Rudnicki, Keer) V) A Dynamical Systems Approach to Observing and Predicting Seismicity (Rudnicki). These diverse research projects have a common feature in that they each involve extensive amounts of large scale scientific computing, development of efficient and accurate software for the engineering applications and the training of students in all facts of scientific computing. This equipment will complement our Cray usage at the national supercomputer centers for intermediate development phases and those computations which require extensive visualization.
