high performance computing on graphics processing units: hgpu.org

This thesis details the refinement and numerical solution of a preexisting model for predicting the strengths and positions of so-called wake-vortices that are generated from the lift of heavy aircraft. The ultimate objective is to implement a numerical scheme for the model that is fast enough to allow for probabilistic methods, such as Monte Carlosimulations, in order to deal with the inherent uncertainty in input parameters for wake-vortex predictions. The differential equation system of the wake-vortex model is stated clearly, which has not been done before. The refinement consists in reducing the number of necessary state variables in the differential equation system. A numerical algorithm based on the mathematical properties of the model is implemented and different ways of optimizing the computations are considered, e.g. through parallelization. Finally, a study will be made trying to assess the validity of the results through analyses of the accuracy and of the model’s sensitivity to small input parameter variations.