Boxlib with tiling: an adaptive mesh refinement software framework

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a block-structured adaptive mesh refinement software framework that incorporates tiling, a well-known loop transformation. Because the multiscale, multiphysics codes built in boxlib are designed to solve complex systems at high resolution, performance on current and next generation architectures is essential. With the expectation of many more cores per node on next generation architectures, the ability to effectively utilize threads within a node is essential, and the current model for parallelization will not be sufficient. We describe a new version of boxlib in which the tiling constructs are embedded so that boxlib-based applications can easily realize expected performance gains without extra effort on the part of the application developer. We also discuss a path forward to enable future versions of boxlib to take advantage of NUMA-aware optimizations using the tida portable library.