Building the TeraGrid

Author(s):  
Peter H Beckman

On 1 October 2004, the most ambitious high-performance Grid project in the United States—the TeraGrid—became fully operational. Resources at nine sites—the San Diego Supercomputer Center, the California Institute of Technology, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the University of Chicago/Argonne National Laboratory, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, Texas Advanced Computing Center, Purdue University, Indiana University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory—were joined via an ultra-fast optical network, unified policies and security procedures and a sophisticated distributed computing software environment. Funded by the National Science Foundation, the TeraGrid enables scientists and engineers to combine distributed, multiple data sources with computation at any of the sites or link massively parallel computer simulations to extreme-resolution visualizations at remote sites. A single shared utility lets multiple resources be easily leveraged and provides improved access to advanced computational capabilities. One of the demonstrations of this new model for using distributed resources, Teragyroid, linked the infrastructure of the TeraGrid with computing resources in the United Kingdom via a transatlantic data fibre link. Once connected, the software framework of the RealityGrid project was used to successfully explore lattice-Boltzmann simulations involving lattices of over one billion sites.

Author(s):  
William F. Chambers ◽  
Arthur A. Chodos ◽  
Roland C. Hagan

TASK8 was designed as an electron microprobe control program with maximum flexibility and versatility, lending itself to a wide variety of applications. While using TASKS in the microprobe laboratory of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, we decided to incorporate the capability of using subroutines which perform specific end-member calculations for nearly any type of mineral phase that might be analyzed in the laboratory. This procedure minimizes the need for post-processing of the data to perform such calculations as element ratios or end-member or formula proportions. It also allows real time assessment of each data point.The use of unique “mineral codes” to specify the list of elements to be measured and the type of calculation to perform on the results was first used in the microprobe laboratory at the California Institute of Technology to optimize the analysis of mineral phases. This approach was used to create a series of subroutines in TASK8 which are called by a three letter code.


2019 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 08009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias J. Schnepf ◽  
R. Florian von Cube ◽  
Max Fischer ◽  
Manuel Giffels ◽  
Christoph Heidecker ◽  
...  

Demand for computing resources in high energy physics (HEP) shows a highly dynamic behavior, while the provided resources by the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) remains static. It has become evident that opportunistic resources such as High Performance Computing (HPC) centers and commercial clouds are well suited to cover peak loads. However, the utilization of these resources gives rise to new levels of complexity, e.g. resources need to be managed highly dynamically and HEP applications require a very specific software environment usually not provided at opportunistic resources. Furthermore, aspects to consider are limitations in network bandwidth causing I/O-intensive workflows to run inefficiently. The key component to dynamically run HEP applications on opportunistic resources is the utilization of modern container and virtualization technologies. Based on these technologies, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed ROCED, a resource manager to dynamically integrate and manage a variety of opportunistic resources. In combination with ROCED, HTCondor batch system acts as a powerful single entry point to all available computing resources, leading to a seamless and transparent integration of opportunistic resources into HEP computing. KIT is currently improving the resource management and job scheduling by focusing on I/O requirements of individual workflows, available network bandwidth as well as scalability. For these reasons, we are currently developing a new resource manager, called TARDIS. In this paper, we give an overview of the utilized technologies, the dynamic management, and integration of resources as well as the status of the I/O-based resource and job scheduling.


Author(s):  
R. W. McClung ◽  
D. R. Johnson

Following an assessment of needs for NDT and characterization of ceramics for the DOE program, Ceramic Technology for Advanced Heat Engines (CTAHE), many NDT projects have been implemented under the sponsorship of CTAHE to address the needs. Tasks at Argonne National Laboratory have involved X-ray computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has emphasized high-frequency ultrasonics, low-voltage radiography, and an advanced system for X-ray computed tomography. A brief investigation was made by Radiation Sciences, Inc., into the feasibility of synchrotron-computed tomography for ceramics. New programs recently initiated at Allison and Garrett integrate ultrasonics, radiography, and other methods into a major effort on life prediction. New programs at Norton and GTE on advanced processing of ceramics also place heavy emphasis on several methods of NDT for process development and control. Initial work on NDT standards has begun in ASTM Committees E-7 and C-28.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Lortz ◽  
David R. Betters ◽  
Lynn L. Wright

Short-rotation woody-crop Populus spp. plantations have the potential to produce large amounts of biomass in short time periods, typically 4–8 years. A production function equation is shown to predict yields for such plantations. The equation is based, in part, on information from biomass production experiments conducted across the United States. These experimental plots are sponsored by the Biofuels Feedstock Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The equation uses nine parameters including both cultural practices and climatic and soil site conditions as independent variables. The equation (R2 = 0.86) is accurate and applicable to a wide range of conditions.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Hendrix

Using Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) data, this paper calculated institutional self citations rates (ISCRs) for 96 of the top research universities in the United States from 2005-2007. Exhibiting similar temporal patterns of author and journal self-citations, the ISCR was 29% in the first year post-publication, and decreased significantly in the second year post-publication (19%). Modeling the data via power laws revealed total publications and citations did not correlate withthe ISCR, but did correlate highly with ISCs. California Institute of Technology exhibited the highest ISCR at 31%. Academic and cultural factors are discussed in relation to ISCRs.


Author(s):  
Mary D. McDermott ◽  
Charles D. Griffin ◽  
Daniel K. Baird ◽  
Carl E. Baily ◽  
John A. Michelbacher ◽  
...  

The Experimental Breeder Reactor - II (EBR-II) at Argonne National Laboratory - West (ANL-W) was shutdown in September 1994 as mandated by the United States Department of Energy. Located in eastern Idaho, this sodium-cooled reactor had been in service since 1964, and was a test facility for fuels development, materials irradiation, system and control theory tests, and hardware development. The EBR-II termination activities began in October 1994, with the reactor being maintained in an industrially and radiologically safe condition for decommissioning. With the shutdown of EBR-II, its sodium coolant became a waste necessitating its reaction to a disposal form. A Sodium Process Facility (SPF), designed to convert sodium to 50 wt% sodium hydroxide, existed at the ANL-W site, but had never been operated. The SPF was upgraded to current standards and codes, and then modified in 1998 to convert the sodium to 70 wt% sodium hydroxide, a substance that solidifies at 65°C (150°F) and is acceptable for burial as low level radioactive waste in Idaho. In December 1998, the SPF began operations. Working with sodium and highly concentrated sodium hydroxide presented some unique operating and maintenance conditions. Several lessons were learned throughout the operating period. Processing of the 330 m3 (87,000 gallons) of EBR-II primary sodium, 50 m3 (13,000 gallons) of EBR-II secondary sodium, and 290 m3 (77,000 gallons) of Fermi-1 primary sodium was successfully completed in March 2001, ahead of schedule and within budget.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-289
Author(s):  
William DeJong-Lambert

This paper describes life and career of Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900-1975) until he arrived in Brazil in 1943. During his years in Russia, Dobzhansky began his entomology studies and undertook research expeditions to Central Asia to study livestock, which focused on speciation biology. Once he arrived in the United States Dobzhansky began working with Drosophila melanogaster with Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866-1945) at Columbia University. Once Morgan relocated to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Dobzhansky started collaborating with his colleague, Alfred Henry Sturtevant (1891-1970), on studies of a wild cousin of Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila pseudoobscura. Dobzhansky and Sturtevant’s friendship and collaboration suffered due to several factors, including most importantly, their differing approaches to Drosophila pseudoobscura as influenced by their different conceptions of the purpose of their work. While Sturtevant studied the flies using the same techniques as his studies of the domestic Drosophila melanogaster, Dobzhansky studied Drosophila pseudoobscura in the field considering his broader dictum that “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” 


Author(s):  
Paul T. Williams ◽  
Shengjun (Sean) Yin ◽  
B. Richard Bass

The Heavy-Section Steel Technology (HSST) Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) performed a probabilistic structural mechanics (PSM) analysis of the damaged Davis Besse reactor pressure vessel head in support of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s ongoing forensic investigations. This paper presents a summary of the results of that PSM analysis, including a description of the Davis-Besse wastage-area damage model, the technical basis for the model, and the results of sensitivity studies based on a cladding capacity analysis (CCA) and an Accident Sequence Precursor (ASP) investigation of the wastage cavity. A companion paper describes the HSST experimental program carried out at ORNL in parallel with the PSM analysis.


Author(s):  
Pin-Chiun Huang ◽  
Hsoung-Wei Chou ◽  
Yuh-Ming Ferng

This paper is to study the effects of copper and nickel content variations on the fracture probability of the pressurized water reactor (PWR) pressure vessel subjected to pressurized-thermal-shock (PTS) transients. The probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) code, FAVOR, which was developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States, is employed to perform the analyses. A Taiwan domestic PWR pressure vessel with varied copper and nickel contents of beltline region welds and plates is investigated in the study. Some PTS transients analyzed from Beaver Valley Unit 1 for establishing the USNRC’s new PTS rule are applied as the loading conditions. It is found that the content variation of copper and nickel will significantly affect the radiation embrittlement and the fracture probability of PWR pressure vessels. The results can be regarded as the risk incremental factors for comparison with the safety regulation requirements on vessel degradation as well as a reference for the operation of PWR plants in Taiwan.


2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-345
Author(s):  
Deborah Warner

The name attached to a scientific instrument may identify the scientist(s) who contributed most to its design or, as was the case with the first successful long-period seismographs, the scientist(s) who captured credit for this achievement. These notable instruments were developed at the Lamont Geological Observatory in the early 1950s and funded by the Department of Defense. They were used to understand the structure of the earth and to detect underground bomb tests. Maurice Ewing and Frank Press, the principal investigators, were alpha males whose competition with each other resembled the Cold War relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. Press moved to the Seismological Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in 1955. Lehner and Griffith, a small Pasadena firm that was closely connected with the Seismo Lab, began manufacturing "Press-Ewing" seismographs in 1958, and Press was soon applying this term to all devices of this sort, even those that had gone before.


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