Multiscale enrichment of a finite volume element method for the stationary Navier–Stokes problem

In this paper, we introduce a finite volume element method for the Navier–Stokes problem. This method is based on the multiscale enrichment and uses the lowest finite element pair P ₁/P ₀. The stability and convergence of the optimal order in H ¹-norm for velocity and L ²-norm for pressure are obtained. Using a dual problem for the Navier–Stokes problem, we establish the convergence of the optimal order in L ²-norm for the velocity.     

Convergence of linearized backward Euler–Galerkin finite element methods for the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations with temporal gauge

We present error analysis of fully discrete Galerkin finite element methods for the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations with the temporal gauge, where a linearized backward Euler scheme is used for the time discretization. We prove that the convergence rate is O(τ+h^r) if the finite element space of piecewise polynomials of degree r is used. Due to the degeneracy of the problem, the convergence rate is one order lower than the optimal convergence rate of finite element methods for parabolic equations. Numerical examples are provided to support our theoretical analysis.     

Two-level Stabilized Finite Element Methods for the Steady Navier–Stokes Problem

In this article, the two-level stabilized finite element formulations of the two-dimensional steady Navier–Stokes problem are analyzed. A macroelement condition is introduced for constructing the local stabilized formulation of the steady Navier–Stokes problem. By satisfying this condition the stability of the Q₁–P₀ quadrilateral element and the P₁–P₀ triangular element are established. Moreover, the two-level stabilized finite element methods involve solving one small Navier–Stokes problem on a coarse mesh with mesh size H, a large Stokes problem for the simple two-level stabilized finite element method on a fine mesh with mesh size h=O(H²) or a large general Stokes problem for the Newton two-level stabilized finite element method on a fine mesh with mesh size h=O(|log h|^1/2H³). The methods we study provide an approximate solution (u^h,p^h) with the convergence rate of same order as the usual stabilized finite element solution, which involves solving one large Navier–Stokes problem on a fine mesh with mesh size h. Hence, our methods can save a large amount of computational time.     

A priori error estimation of a four-node Reissner–Mindlin plate element for elasto-dynamics

The explicit finite element method for transient dynamics of linear elasticity by Reissner–Mindlin plate model is introduced. For clamped rectangular plate, the a priori error estimates are derived for the four-node Bathe–Dvorkin element. For fixed thickness, the convergence rates of deflection, rotation, and their velocities, measured both in H¹-norm and L²-norm, can possibly all be optimal under certain conditions. In some cases, the numerical examples show that the convergence rate stays optimal for a certain range of thickness. In other cases, however, the deterioration in rate of convergence and even locking may occur to the velocity terms.     

Quadrature based finite element approximations to time dependent parabolic equations with nonsmooth initial data

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of numerical quadrature in the finite element analysis for a time dependent parabolic equation with nonsmooth initial data. Both semidiscrete and fully discrete schemes are analyzed using standard energy techniques. For the semidiscrete case, optimal order error estimates are derived in the L ² and H ¹-norms and quasi-optimal order in the L ^∞-norm, when the initial function is only in H ₀ ¹. Finally, based on the backward Euler method, a time discretization scheme is discussed and almost optimal rates of convergence in the L ², H ¹ and L ^∞-norms are established. Received: September 1997 / Accepted: October 1997     

The weighted continuous galerkin scheme for ordinary differential equations

We introduce the Weighted Continuous Galerkin Scheme for initial value ordinary differential equations. This is an extension of the Continuous Galerkin Scheme, having an extra parameter for the purpose of error reduction. We prove convergence in the L ₂ norm in the time variable in a new way, similar to (elliptic) finite element techniques. Using the optimal L ₂ estimates, we then prove max norm convergence. Numerical evidence for the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is presented.     

A Refined Finite Element Convergence Theory for Highly Indefinite Helmholtz Problems

It is well known that standard h-version finite element discretisations using lowest order elements for Helmholtz' equation suffer from the following stability condition: ``The mesh width h of the finite element mesh has to satisfy k <sup>2</sup> h≲1', where k denotes the wave number. This condition rules out the reliable numerical solution of Helmholtz equation in three dimensions for large wave numbers k≳50. In our paper, we will present a refined finite element theory for highly indefinite Helmholtz problems where the stability of the discretisation can be checked through an ``almost invariance' condition. As an application, we will consider a one-dimensional finite element space for the Helmholtz equation and apply our theory to prove stability under the weakened condition hk≲1 and optimal convergence estimates. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Ivo Babuška on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

Numerical analysis and computations of a high accuracy time relaxation fluid flow model

We present a numerical study based on continuous finite element analysis for a time relaxation regularization of Navier–Stokes equations. This regularization is based on filtering and deconvolution. We study the convergence of the regularized equations using a fully discretized filter and deconvolution algorithm. Velocity and pressure error estimates and the L ₂ Aubin–Nitsche lift technique are proved for the equilibrium problem, and this analysis is accompanied by the velocity error estimate for the time-dependent problem, too. Thus, optimal error estimates in L ₂ and H ¹ norms are derived and followed by their computational verification. Also, computational results of the vortex street are presented for the two-dimensional cylinder benchmark flow problem. Maximum drag and lift coefficients and difference in pressure between the front and back of the cylinder at the final time were investigated as well, showing that the time relaxation regularization can attain the benchmark values.     

Finite element approximation of some indefinite elliptic problems

We consider the finite element approximation of some indefinite Neumann problems in a domain of IR^N. From the Fredholm Alternative this kind of problem admits a solution if and only if the right hand term has zero mean value with respect to a measure whose density m is the solution of a homogeneous adjoint problem. The first step consists in the construction of piecewise linear finite element approximations m_h of m, showing their optimal rate of convergence both in energy and L^p norms. The functions m_h are then shown to be crucial in testing admissible data for the Neumann problem and also in its numerical resolution (actually, the standard Galerkin approximation may not be solvable without suitable perturbations of the data).     

A finite element approach to a quasi-variational inequality

We analyze the convergence of the finite element approximation to an elliptic one-dimensional quasi-variational inequality, connected to stochastic impulse control theory. We prove an optimal 0(h) error bound for the linear element solution of the associated variational selection. Then, by means of a continuity result, we derive anL ^∞-error estimate for the linear element solution of the quasi-variational inequality. Work supported by the Gruppo Nazionale per l'Analisi Matematica del C.N.R.     

Convergence of an upwind control-volume mixed finite element method for convection–diffusion problems

Summary We consider a upwind control volume mixed finite element method for convection–diffusion problem on rectangular grids. These methods use the lowest order Raviart–Thomas mixed finite element space as the trial functional space and associate control-volumes, or covolumes, with the vector variable as well as the scalar variable. Chou et al. [6] established a one-half order convergence in discrete L ²-norms. In this paper, we establish a first order convergence for both the vector variable as well as the scalar variable in discrete L ²-norms.      

Two-Grid Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Quasi-Linear Elliptic Problems

In this paper, we consider the symmetric interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin (SIPG) method with piecewise polynomials of degree r≥1 for a class of quasi-linear elliptic problems in Ω⊂ℝ². We propose a two-grid approximation for the SIPG method which can be thought of as a type of linearization of the nonlinear system using a solution from a coarse finite element space. With this technique, solving a quasi-linear elliptic problem on the fine finite element space is reduced into solving a linear problem on the fine finite element space and solving the quasi-linear elliptic problem on a coarse space. Convergence estimates in a broken H ¹-norm are derived to justify the efficiency of the proposed two-grid algorithm. Numerical experiments are provided to confirm our theoretical findings. As a byproduct of the technique used in the analysis, we derive the optimal pointwise error estimates of the SIPG method for the quasi-linear elliptic problems in ℝ ^d ,d=2,3 and use it to establish the convergence of the two-grid method for problems in Ω⊂ℝ³.     

Analysis of Galerkin Methods for the Fully Nonlinear Monge-Ampère Equation

This paper develops and analyzes finite element Galerkin and spectral Galerkin methods for approximating viscosity solutions of the fully nonlinear Monge-Ampère equation det (D ² u ⁰)=f (>0) based on the vanishing moment method which was developed by the authors in Feng and Neilan (J. Sci. Comput. 38:74–98, 2009) and Feng (Convergence of the vanishing moment method for the Monge-Ampère equation, submitted). In this approach, the Monge-Ampère equation is approximated by the fourth order quasilinear equation −εΔ² u ^ε +det D ² u ^ε =f accompanied by appropriate boundary conditions. This new approach enables us to construct convergent Galerkin numerical methods for the fully nonlinear Monge-Ampère equation (and other fully nonlinear second order partial differential equations), a task which has been impracticable before. In this paper, we first develop some finite element and spectral Galerkin methods for approximating the solution u ^ε of the regularized problem. We then derive optimal order error estimates for the proposed numerical methods. In particular, we track explicitly the dependence of the error bounds on the parameter ε, for the error u^e-u^e_hu^{\varepsilon}-u^{\varepsilon}_{h}. Due to the strong nonlinearity of the underlying equation, the standard error estimate technique, which has been widely used for error analysis of finite element approximations of nonlinear problems, does not work here. To overcome the difficulty, we employ a fixed point technique which strongly makes use of the stability property of the linearized problem and its finite element approximations. Finally, using the Argyris finite element method as an example, we present a detailed numerical study of the rates of convergence in terms of powers of ε for the error u⁰-u_h^eu^{0}-u_{h}^{\varepsilon}, and numerically examine what is the “best” mesh size h in relation to ε in order to achieve these rates.     

Lumped model of a non-linear distributed system by finite element method

The finite element method has been used to find an approximate lumped parameter model of a non-linear distributed parameter system. A one dimensional non-linear dispersion system is considered. The space domain is divided into a finite set of k elements. Each element, has n nodes. Within each element the concentration is represented by C(x,t)^(e) = [N][C] ^T where [N] = [n₁(x),n₂(x), [tdot] n_n(x)] and [C] = [C₁(t),C₂(t), [tdot] C_n(t)]. By using Galerkin's criterion a set of (k × n ? n+ 1) first order differential equations are obtained for C_i(t). These equations are solved by an iterative method. The concepts are illustrated by an example taking five three-node elements in the space domain. The results are compared with those obtained by a finite difference method. It is shown that the finite element method can be used effectively in modelling of a distributed system by a lumped system.     

Finite Volume Element Approximations of Nonlocal in Time One-Dimensional Flows in Porous Media

Various finite volume element schemes for parabolic integro-differential equations in 1-D are derived and studied. These types of equations arise in modeling reactive flows or material with memory effects. Our main goal is to develop a general framework for obtaining finite volume element approximations and to study the error analysis. We consider the lowest-order (linear and L-splines) finite volume elements, although higher-order volume elements can be considered as well under this framework. It is proved that finite volume element approximations are convergent with optimal order in H ¹-norms, suboptimal order in the L ²-norm and super-convergent order in a discrete H ¹-norm. Received August 3, 1998; revised October 11, 1999     

A nonconforming finite element method¶with anisotropic mesh grading¶for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations¶in domains with edges

Any solution of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations in three-dimensional domains with edges has anisotropic singular behaviour which is treated numerically by using anisotropic finite element meshes. The velocity is approximated by Crouzeix–Raviart (nonconforming 𝒫₁) elements and the pressure by piecewise constants. This method is stable for general meshes since the inf-sup condition is satisfied without minimal or maximal angle condition. The existence of solutions to the discrete problems follows. Consistency error estimates for the divergence equation are obtained for anisotropic tensor product meshes. As applications, the consistency error estimate for the Navier–Stokes solution and some discrete Sobolev inequalities are derived on such meshes. These last results provide optimal error estimates in the uniqueness case by the use of appropriately refined anisotropic tensor product meshes, namely, if N _e is the number of elements of the mesh, we prove that the optimal order of convergence h∼ N _e ^{− 1/3}. Received:July 2001 / Accepted: July 2002     

The Streamline–Diffusion Method for Conforming and Nonconforming Finite Elements of Lowest Order Applied to Convection–Diffusion Problems

We consider the streamline-diffusion finite element method with finite elements of lowest order for solving convection-diffusion problems. Our investigations cover both conforming and nonconforming finite element approximations on triangular and quadrilateral meshes. Although the considered finite elements are of the same interpolation order their stability and approximation properties are quite different. We give a detailed overview on the stability and the convergence properties in the L ²- and in the streamline–diffusion norm. Numerical experiments show that often the theoretical predictions on the convergence properties are sharp. Received December 7, 1999; revised October 5, 2000     

H 1-Galerkin Mixed Finite Element Method for the Regularized Long Wave Equation

In this paper, an H¹-Galerkin mixed finite element method is proposed for the 1-D regularized long wave (RLW) equation u_t+u_x+uu_x−δu_xxt=0. The existence of unique solutions of the semi-discrete and fully discrete H¹-Galerkin mixed finite element methods is proved, and optimal error estimates are established. Our method can simultaneously approximate the scalar unknown and the vector flux effectively, without requiring the LBB consistency condition. Finally, some numerical results are provided to illustrate the efficacy of our method.     

Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Second-Order Elliptic PDE with Low-Regularity Solutions

In this paper we derive an a priori error analysis for interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin finite element discretizations of the Poisson equation with exact solution in W ^2,p , p∈(1,2]. We show that the DGFEM converges at an optimal algebraic rate with respect to the number of degrees of freedom.