Adaptive Mesh Refinement for Multiphysics Applications

Dr. Ann Almgren, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 3:00-3:40 pm UTC (30 min talk + 10 min questions)
8 am PDT / 10 am CDT / 11 am EDT / 3 pm UTC / 5 pm CEST / 12 am JST

Participation is free, but registration is required
Registration link: TBA

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Abstract:
Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is one of several techniques for dynamically modifying the spatial resolution of a simulation in particular regions of the spatial domain. Block-structured AMR specifically refines the mesh by defining locally structured regions with finer spatial, and possibly temporal, resolution. This combination of locally structured meshes within an irregular global hierarchy is in some sense the best of both worlds in that it enables regular local data access while enabling greater flexibility in the overall computation.

AMR has come a long way since it was first developed.  In this talk I will give a short overview of block-structured AMR for different types of applications and will discuss how it has become both more powerful and more complicated, and how open-source software is enabling non-experts to take advantage of this important technique.

Bio:
Ann Almgren is a senior scientist in the Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Department Head of Berkeley Lab's Applied Mathematics Department. Her primary research interest is in computational algorithms for solving partial differential equations in a variety of application areas. Her current projects include the development and implementation of new multiphysics algorithms in high-resolution adaptive mesh codes that are designed for the latest hybrid architectures. She is a SIAM Fellow, serves on the editorial boards of CAMCoS, IJHPCA and Phil. Trans. A., and co-leads LBL's Computing Sciences Area Mentoring Program. In 2023 she was awarded the Berkeley Lab Director's Award for Exceptional Scientific Achievement. Prior to coming to LBL she worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ, and at Lawrence Livermore National Lab.