Finite dimensional approximation of nonlinear problems

Summary We begin in this paper the study of a general method of approximation of solutions of nonlinear equations in a Banach space. We prove here an abstract result concerning the approximation of branches of nonsingular solutions. The general theory is then applied to the study of the convergence of two mixed finite element methods for the Navier-Stokes and the von Kármán equations.supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique     

Finite dimensional approximation of nonlinear problems

Summary In the first two papers of this series [4, 5], we have studied a general method of approximation of nonsingular solutions and simple limit points of nonlinear equations in a Banach space. We derive here general approximation results of the branches of solutions in the neighborhood of a simple bifurcation point. The abstract theory is applied to the Galerkin approximation of nonlinear variational problems and to a mixed finite element approximation of the von Kármán equations.The work of F. Brezzi has been completed during his stay at the Université P. et M. Curie and at the Ecole PolytechniqueThe work of J. Rappaz has been supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique     

Finite dimensional approximation of bifurcation problems in presence of symmetries

Summary We study the approximation of nonlinear equations in a neighbourhood of a bifurcation point of multiplicity two, in presence of symmetries. Under a fairly general approximation condition which preserves the symmetry properties of the problem, we define a discrete problem whose solutions are described precisely and we state sharp error estimates between the branches of exact and approximate solutions.     

A quasi-Newton method for solving fixed point problems in Hilbert spaces

Summary We study the convergence properties of a projective variant of Newton's method for the approximation of fixed points of completely continuous operators in Hilbert spaces. We then discuss applications to nonlinear integral equations and we produce some numerical examples.     

Une méthode particulaire déterministe pour des équations diffusives non linéaires

We study in this Note a deterministic particle method for heat (or Fokker–Planck) equations or for porous media equations. This method is based upon an approximation of these equations by nonlinear transport equations and we prove the convergence of that approximation. Finally, we present some numerical experiments for the heat equation and for an example of porous media equations.     

A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK FOR SOME INEXACT PROXIMAL POINT ALGORITHMS*

We present a unified framework for the design and convergence analysis of a class of algorithms based on approximate solution of proximal point subproblems. Our development further enhances the constructive approximation approach of the recently proposed hybrid projection–proximal and extragradient–proximal methods. Specifically, we introduce an even more flexible error tolerance criterion, as well as provide a unified view of these two algorithms. Our general method possesses global convergence and local (super)linear rate of convergence under standard assumptions, while using a constructive approximation criterion suitable for a number of specific implementations. For example, we show that close to a regular solution of a monotone system of semismooth equations, two Newton iterations are sufficient to solve the proximal subproblem within the required error tolerance. Such systems of equations arise naturally when reformulating the nonlinear complementarity problem.

     

On the separation of isolated solutions of nonlinear integral equations

We present the theoretical justification and a method for practical realization of the process of separation of solutions isolated in a bounded domain for some classes of nonlinear integral equations. We study the problem of construction of a sequence of approximation equations by the method of mechanical quadratures and the problem of existence of solutions of these equations. We also present methods for approximate solution of these equations and obtaina posteriori error estimates.     

Blow-up and global existence for a general class of nonlocal nonlinear coupled wave equations

We study the initial-value problem for a general class of nonlinear nonlocal coupled wave equations. The problem involves convolution operators with kernel functions whose Fourier transforms are nonnegative. Some well-known examples of nonlinear wave equations, such as coupled Boussinesq-type equations arising in elasticity and in quasi-continuum approximation of dense lattices, follow from the present model for suitable choices of the kernel functions. We establish local existence and sufficient conditions for finite-time blow-up and as well as global existence of solutions of the problem.     

The convergence of two numerical schemes for the Navier-Stokes equations

Summary This paper deals with some convergence/stability results concerning two numerical methods for solving the incompressible nonstationary Navier-Stokes equations. The algorithms are of a particular kind in what regards time discretization (more precisely, of the Peaceman-Rachford and the Strang type resp.), and have been obtained by modifying slightly the numerical treatment of the nonlinear terms in other schemes due to Glowinski et al. (1980). We first describe the full discretization of the homogeneous Dirichlet problem using a (general) external approximation of the spatial functional spaces involved (a particular and simple choice of such an approximation is the standardP ₂-Lagrange finite element for the velocity field when the fluid is bidimensional). Then we establish and prove convergence and stability and make some comments on the numerical treatment of other (generally nonhomogeneous) boundary conditions. The theoretical results show that the schemes are (at least) conditionally stable and convergent, which justifies the success of Glowinski's methods.     

Analytical approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems using renormalization group method

A direct method based on renormalization group method (RGM) is proposed for determining the analytical approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems. To demonstrate the application of the method, we use it to analyze some examples. First, we analyze the vibration of a beam resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation with distributed quadratic and cubic nonlinearities in the cases of primary and subharmonic resonances of the nth mode. We apply the RGM to the discretized governing equation and also directly to the governing partial differential equations (PDE). The results are in full agreement with those previously obtained with multiple scales method. Second, we obtain higher order approximation for free vibrations of a beam resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation with distributed cubic nonlinearities. The method is applied to the discretized governing equation as well as directly to the governing PDE. The proposed method is capable of producing directly higher order approximation of weakly nonlinear continuous systems. It is shown that the higher order approximation of discretization and direct methods are not in general equal. Finally, we analyze the previous problem in the case that the governing differential equation expressed in complex-variable form. The results of second order form and complex-variable form are not in agreement. We observe that in use of RGM in higher order approximation of continuous systems, the equations must not be treated in second order form.     

A class of quasilinear degenerate elliptic problems

We establish the existence of solutions for a class of quasilinear degenerate elliptic equations. The equations in this class satisfy a structure condition which provides ellipticity in the interior of the domain, and degeneracy only on the boundary. Equations of transonic gas dynamics, for example, satisfy this property in the region of subsonic flow and are degenerate across the sonic surface. We prove that the solution is smooth in the interior of the domain but may exhibit singular behavior at the degenerate boundary. The maximal rate of blow-up at the degenerate boundary is bounded by the “degree of degeneracy” in the principal coefficients of the quasilinear elliptic operator. Our methods and results apply to the problems recently studied by several authors which include the unsteady transonic small disturbance equation, the pressure-gradient equations of the compressible Euler equations, and the singular quasilinear anisotropic elliptic problems, and extend to the class of equations which satisfy the structure condition, such as the shallow water equation, compressible isentropic two-dimensional Euler equations, and general two-dimensional nonlinear wave equations. Our study provides a general framework to analyze degenerate elliptic problems arising in the self-similar reduction of a broad class of two-dimensional Cauchy problems.     

On Approximation and Computation of Navier-Stokes Flow

We present an approximation method for the non-stationary nonlinear incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in a cylindrical domain (0,T)×G,where G⊂R^3 is a smoothly bounded domain. Ourmethod is applicable to general three-dimensional flow without any symmetry restrictions and relies on existence, uniqueness and representation results from mathematical fluid dynamics. After a suitable time delay in the nonlinear convective term v·∇v we obtain globally (in time) uniquely solvable equations, which - by using semi-implicit time differences - can be transformed into a finite number of Stokes-type boundary value problems. For the latter a boundary element method based on a corresponding hydrodynamical potential theory is carried out. The method is reported in short outlines ranging from approximation theory up to numerical test calculations.     

Nonlinear Galerkin methods and mixed finite elements: two-grid algorithms for the Navier-Stokes equations

Summary. A nonlinear Galerkin method using mixed finite elements is presented for the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The scheme is based on two finite element spaces and for the approximation of the velocity, defined respectively on one coarse grid with grid size and one fine grid with grid size and one finite element space for the approximation of the pressure. Nonlinearity and time dependence are both treated on the coarse space. We prove that the difference between the new nonlinear Galerkin method and the standard Galerkin solution is of the order of $H^2$, both in velocity ( and pressure norm). We also discuss a penalized version of our algorithm which enjoys similar properties. Received October 5, 1993 / Revised version received November 29, 1993     

Near-field and far-field approximations by the Adomian and asymptotic decomposition methods

The Adomian decomposition method and the asymptotic decomposition method give the near-field approximate solution and far-field approximate solution, respectively, for linear and nonlinear differential equations. The Padé approximants give solution continuation of series solutions, but the continuation is usually effective only on some finite domain, and it can not always give the asymptotic behavior as the independent variables approach infinity. We investigate the global approximate solution by matching the near-field approximation derived from the Adomian decomposition method with the far-field approximation derived from the asymptotic decomposition method for linear and nonlinear differential equations. For several examples we find that there exists an overlap between the near-field approximation and the far-field approximation, so we can match them to obtain a global approximate solution. For other nonlinear examples where the series solution from the Adomian decomposition method has a finite convergent domain, we can match the Padé approximant of the near-field approximation with the far-field approximation to obtain a global approximate solution representing the true, entire solution over an infinite domain.     

A new smoothing Newton method for solving constrained nonlinear equations

In this paper, a new smoothing Newton method is proposed for solving constrained nonlinear equations. We first transform the constrained nonlinear equations to a system of semismooth equations by using the so-called absolute value function of the slack variables, and then present a new smoothing Newton method for solving the semismooth equations by constructing a new smoothing approximation function. This new method is globally and quadratically convergent. It needs to solve only one system of unconstrained equations and to perform one line search at each iteration. Numerical results show that the new algorithm works quite well.     

Preservation of stability under discretization of systems of ordinary differential equations

We study the stability preservation problem while passing from ordinary differential to difference equations. Using the method of Lyapunov functions, we determine the conditions under which the asymptotic stability of the zero solutions to systems of differential equations implies that the zero solutions to the corresponding difference systems are asymptotically stable as well. We prove a theorem on the stability of perturbed systems, estimate the duration of transition processes for some class of systems of nonlinear difference equations, and study the conditions of the stability of complex systems in nonlinear approximation.     

Parameter identification in nonlocal nonlinear evolution equations

We develop an approximation framework for identifying parameters in a general class of nonautonomous, nonlocal and nonlinear evolution equations. After establishing existence and uniqueness of solutions, we present a convergence theory for Galerkin approximations to inverse problems involving these equations. Our approach relies on the theory of maximal monotone operators in Banach spaces. An application to a nonautonomous nonlinear integral equation arising in heat flow is also discussed.     

Discrete time high-order schemes for viscosity solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations

Summary. A general method for constructing high-order approximation schemes for Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations is given. The method is based on a discrete version of the Dynamic Programming Principle. We prove a general convergence result for this class of approximation schemes also obtaining, under more restrictive assumptions, an estimate in of the order of convergence and of the local truncation error. The schemes can be applied, in particular, to the stationary linear first order equation in . We present several examples of schemes belonging to this class and with fast convergence to the solution. Received July 4, 1992 / Revised version received July 7, 1993     

A note on the derivation of filter regularization operators for nonlinear evolution equations

Despite the strong focus of regularization on ill-posed problems, the general construction of such methods has not been fully explored. Moreover, many previous studies cannot be clearly adapted to handle more complex scenarios, albeit the greatly increasing concerns on the improvement of wider classes. In this note, we rigorously study a general theory for filter regularized operators in a Hilbert space for nonlinear evolution equations which have occurred naturally in different areas of science. The starting point lies in problems that are in principle ill-posed with respect to the initial/final data – these basically include the Cauchy problem for nonlinear elliptic equations and the backward-in-time nonlinear parabolic equations. We derive general filters that can be used to stabilize those problems. Essentially, we establish the corresponding well-posed problem whose solution converges to the solution of the ill-posed problem. The approximation can be confirmed by the error estimates in the Hilbert space. This work improves very much many papers in the same field of research.     

Renormalization group second‐order approximation for singularly perturbed nonlinear ordinary differential equations

We consider a 2 time scale nonlinear system of ordinary differential equations. The small parameter of the system is the ratio ϵ of the time scales. We search for an approximation involving only the slow time unknowns and valid uniformly for all times at order O(ϵ²). A classical approach to study these problems is Tikhonov's singular perturbation theorem. We develop an approach leading to a higher order approximation using the renormalization group (RG) method. We apply it in 2 steps. In the first step, we show that the RG method allows for approximation of the fast time variables by their RG expansion taken at the slow time unknowns. Next, we study the slow time equations, where the fast time unknowns are replaced by their RG expansion. This allows to rigorously show the second order uniform error estimate. Our result is a higher order extension of Hoppensteadt's work on the Tikhonov singular perturbation theorem for infinite times. The proposed procedure is suitable for problems from applications, and it is computationally less demanding than the classical Vasil'eva‐O'Malley expansion. We apply the developed method to a mathematical model of stem cell dynamics.