Mixed finite element methods for the Signorini problem with friction

In this article, we propose and study different mixed variational methods in order to approximate the Signorini problem with friction using finite elements. The discretized normal and tangential constraints at the contact interface are expressed by using either continuous piecewise linear or piecewise constant Lagrange multipliers in the saddle?point formulation. A priori error estimates are established and several numerical examples corresponding to the different choices of the discretized normal and tangential constraints are carried out. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2006     

Méthode d'éléments finis avec hybridisation frontière pour les problèmes de contact avec frottementFinite element method with Lagrange multipliers for contact problems with friction

In this Note, we propose a finite element method with Lagrange multipliers in order to approximate contact problems with friction. The discretized normal and tangential constraints at the candidate contact interface are expressed by using continuous piecewise linear Lagrange multipliers in the saddle-point formulation. An optimal error estimate is established and several numerical studies corresponding to this choice of the discretized normal and tangential constraints are achieved. To cite this article: L. Baillet, T. Sassi, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 917–922.     

Numerical simulations of water–gas flow in heterogeneous porous media with discontinuous capillary pressures by the concept of global pressure

We present an approach and numerical results for a new formulation modeling immiscible compressible two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media with discontinuous capillary pressures. The main feature of this model is the introduction of a new global pressure, and it is fully equivalent to the original equations. The resulting equations are written in a fractional flow formulation and lead to a coupled degenerate system which consists of a nonlinear parabolic (the global pressure) equation and a nonlinear diffusion–convection one (the saturation equation) with nonlinear transmission conditions at the interfaces that separate different media. The resulting system is discretized using a vertex-centred finite volume method combined with pressure and flux interface conditions for the treatment of heterogeneities. An implicit Euler approach is used for time discretization. A Godunov-type method is used to treat the convection terms, and the diffusion terms are discretized by piecewise linear conforming finite elements. We present numerical simulations for three one-dimensional benchmark tests to demonstrate the ability of the method to approximate solutions of water–gas equations efficiently and accurately in nuclear underground waste disposal situations.     

Some remarks on the constant in the strengthened CBS inequality: Estimate for hierarchical finite element discretizations of elasticity problems

For a class of two‐dimensional boundary value problems including diffusion and elasticity problems, it is proved that the constants in the corresponding strengthened Cauchy‐Buniakowski‐Schwarz (CBS) inequality in the cases of two‐level hierarchical piecewise‐linear/piecewise‐linear and piecewise‐linear/piecewise‐quadratic finite element discretizations with triangular meshes differ by the factor 0.75. For plane linear elasticity problems and triangulations with right isosceles triangles, formulas are presented that show the dependence of the constant in the CBS inequality on the Poisson's ratio. Furthermore, numerically determined bounds of the constant in the CBS inequality are given for plane linear elasticity problems discretized by means of arbitrary triangles and for three‐dimensional elasticity problems discretized by means of tetrahedral elements. Finally, the robustness of iterative solvers for elasticity problems is discussed briefly. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 15: 469–487, 1999     

A mixed finite element method for the unilateral contact problem in elasticity

In this paper, we provide a new mixed finite element approximation of the varia-tional inequality resulting from the unilateral contact problem in elasticity. We use the continuous piecewise P2-P1 finite element to approximate the displacement field and the normal stress component on the contact region. Optimal convergence rates are obtained under the reasonable regularity hypotheses. Numerical example verifies our results.     

Approximation of relaxed nonlinear parabolic optimal control problems

We consider a relaxed optimal control problem for systems defined by nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations with distributed control. The problem is completely discretized by using a finite-element approximation scheme with piecewise linear states and piecewise constant controls. Existence of optimal controls and necessary conditions for optimality are derived for both the continuous and the discrete problem. We then prove that accumulation points of sequences of discrete optimal [resp. extremal] controls are optimal [resp. extremal] for the continuous problem.     

Second Order Scalar Functional Differential Equations with Piecewise Constant Arguments

The study of functional differential equations with piecewise constant arguments usually results in a study of certain related difference equations. In this paper we consider certain neutral functional differential equations of this type and the associated difference equations. We give conditions under which such equations with almost periodic time dependence will have unique almost periodic solutions, and for certain autonomous cases, we obtain certain stability results and also conditions for chaotic behavior of solutions. We are particularly concerned with such equations which are partially discretized versions of non-forced Duffing equations.     

Finite Element Analysis of an Optimal Control Problem in the Coefficients of Time-Harmonic Eddy Current Equations

This paper is concerned with an optimal control problem governed by time-harmonic eddy current equations on a Lipschitz polyhedral domain. The controls are given by scalar functions entering in the coefficients of the curl-curl differential operator in the state equation. We present a mathematical analysis of the optimal control problem, including sensitivity analysis, regularity results, existence of an optimal control, and optimality conditions. Based on these results, we study the finite element analysis of the optimal control problem. Here, the state is discretized by the lowest order edge elements of Nédélec??s first family, and the control is discretized by continuous piecewise linear elements. Our main findings are convergence results of the finite element discretization (without a rate).     

A solution for antiplane‐strain local problems using elliptic integrals of Cauchy type

Quasi‐periodic piecewise analytic solutions, without poles, are found for the local antiplane‐strain problems. Such problems arise from applying the asymptotic homogenization method to an elastic problem in a parallel fiber‐reinforced periodic composite that presents an imperfect contact of spring type between the fiber and the matrix. Our methodology consists of rewriting the contact conditions in a complex appropriate form that allow us to use the elliptic integrals of Cauchy type. Several general conditions are assumed including that the fibers are disposed of arbitrary manner in the unit cell, that all fibers present imperfect contact with different constants of imperfection, and that their cross section is smooth closed arbitrary curves. Finally, we obtain a family of piecewise analytic solutions for the local antiplane‐strain problems that depend of a real parameter. When we vary this parameter, it is possible to improve classic bounds for the effective coefficients. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linear and Discontinuous Approximations for Optimal Control Problems

Abstract

An optimal control problem for 2D and 3D elliptic equations is investigated with pointwise control constraints. This paper is concerned with the discretization of the control by piecewise linear but discontinuous functions. The state and the adjoint state are discretized by linear finite elements. The paper is focused on similarities and differences to piecewise constant and piecewise linear (continuous) approximation of the controls. Approximation of order h in the L ^∞-norm is proved in the main result.     

Analysis of a finite element method for pressure/potential formulation of elastoacoustic spectral problems

A finite element method to approximate the vibration modes of a structure enclosing an acoustic fluid is analyzed. The fluid is described by using simultaneously pressure and displacement potential variables, whereas displacement variables are used for the solid. A mathematical analysis of the continuous spectral problem is given. The problem is discretized on a simplicial mesh by using piecewise constant elements for the pressure and continuous piecewise linear finite elements for the other fields. Error estimates are settled for approximate eigenvalues and eigenfrequencies. Finally, implementation issues are discussed.

     

A characteristic finite element method for optimal control problems governed by convection-diffusion equations

In this paper we analyze a characteristic finite element approximation of convex optimal control problems governed by linear convection-dominated diffusion equations with pointwise inequality constraints on the control variable, where the state and co-state variables are discretized by piecewise linear continuous functions and the control variable is approximated by either piecewise constant functions or piecewise linear discontinuous functions. A priori error estimates are derived for the state, co-state and the control. Numerical examples are given to show the efficiency of the characteristic finite element method.     

Mixed finite element methods for a fourth order reaction diffusion equation

Mixed finite element methods are applied to a fourth order reaction diffusion equation with different types of boundary conditions. Some a priori bounds are established with the help of Lyapunov functional. The semidiscrete schemes are derived using C⁰‐piecewise linear finite elements in spatial direction and error estimates are obtained. The semidiscrete problem is then discretized in the temporal direction using backward Euler method and the wellposedness of the completely discrete scheme is discussed. Finally, a priori error estimates are established. While deriving a priori error estimates, Gronwall's lemma is applied and the constants involved in the error bounds do not depend exponentially on $\frac{1}{\gamma}$, where γ is a parameter appeared in the fourth order derivative. © 2011Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2012     

Numerical investigations on physiological contact in the human hip joint

In this contribution, an efficient computational approach for modeling the physiological contact conditions in synovial joints is presented. A detailed three-dimensional finite element model of the hip joint is generated based on CT-data. The synovial gap between the porous cartilage layers is discretized with shell-like liquid interface elements. In these elements, the Stokes flow equations are solved and the contact conditions are treated in a staggered fluid structure interaction scheme. The development of the synovial contact elements is described and boundary conditions which represent the joint capsule are introduced. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Superconvergence for Optimal Control Problem Governed by Nonlinear Elliptic Equations

In this article, we investigate the superconvergence of the finite element approximation for optimal control problem governed by nonlinear elliptic equations. The state and co-state are discretized by piecewise linear functions and control is approximated by piecewise constant functions. We give the superconvergence analysis for both the control variable and the state variables. Finally, the numerical experiments show the theoretical results.     

ERROR ESTIMATES FOR SPARSE OPTIMAL CONTROL PROBLEMS BY PIECEWISE LINEAR FINITE ELEMENT APPROXIMATION

Optimization problems with L¹-control cost functional subject to an elliptic partial differential equation(PDE)are considered.However,different from the finite dimensiona l¹-regularization optimization,the resulting discretized L¹norm does not have a decoupled form when the standard piecewise linear finite element is employed to discretize the continuous problem.A common approach to overcome this difficulty is employing a nodal quadrature formula to approximately discretize the L¹-norm.In this paper,a new discretized scheme for the L¹-norm is presented.Compared to the new discretized scheme for L¹-norm with the nodal quadrature formula,the advantages of our new discretized scheme can be demonstrated in terms of the order of approximation.Moreover,finite element error estimates results for the primal problem with the new discretized scheme for the L¹-norm are provided,which confirms that this approximation scheme will not change the order of error estimates.To solve the new discretized problem,a symmetric Gauss-Seidel based majorized accelerated block coordinate descent(sGS-mABCD)method is introduced to solve it via its dual.The proposed sGS-mABCD algorithm is illustrated at two numerical examples.Numerical results not only confirm the finite element error estimates,but also show that our proposed algorithm is efficient.     

Superconvergence and $L^{\infty}$-Error Estimates of RT1 Mixed Methods for Semilinear Elliptic Control Problems with an Integral Constraint

In this paper, we investigate the superconvergence property and the $L^{\infty}$-error estimates of mixed finite element methods for a semilinear elliptic control problem with an integral constraint. The state and co-state are approximated by the order one Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element space and the control variable is approximated by piecewise constant functions or piecewise linear functions. We derive some superconvergence results for the control variable and the state variables when the control is approximated by piecewise constant functions. Moreover, we derive $L^{\infty}$-error estimates for both the control variable and the state variables when the control is discretized by piecewise linear functions. Finally, some numerical examples are given to demonstrate the theoretical results.     

Numerical solution of parabolic integro-differential equations by the discontinuous Galerkin method

The numerical solution of a parabolic equation with memory is considered. The equation is first discretized in time by means of the discontinuous Galerkin method with piecewise constant or piecewise linear approximating functions. The analysis presented allows variable time steps which, as will be shown, can then efficiently be selected to match singularities in the solution induced by singularities in the kernel of the memory term or by nonsmooth initial data. The combination with finite element discretization in space is also studied.

     

Stress-driven local-solution approach to quasistatic brittle delamination

A unilateral contact problem between elastic bodies at small strains glued by a brittle adhesive is addressed in the quasistatic rate-independent setting. The delamination process is modeled as governed by stresses rather than by energies. This leads to a specific scaling of an approximating elastic adhesive contact problem, discretized by a semi-implicit scheme and regularized by a BV-type gradient term. An analytical zero-dimensional example motivates the model and a specific local-solution concept. Two-dimensional numerical simulations performed on an engineering benchmark problem of debonding a fiber in an elastic matrix further illustrate the validity of the model, convergence, and algorithmical efficiency even for very rigid adhesives with high elastic moduli.     

Minimum-weight design of elastic sandwich beams with deflection constraints

In this paper, minimum-weight design of an elastic sandwich beam with a prescribed deflection constraint at a given point is investigated. The analysis is based on geometrical considerations using then-dimensional space of discretized specific bending stiffness. Since the present method of analysis is different from the method based on the calculus of variations, the conditions of piecewise continuity and differentiability on specific bending stiffness can be relaxed. Necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality are derived for both statically determinate and statically indeterminate beams. Beams subject to a single loading and beams subject to multiple loadings are analyzed. The degree to which the optimality condition renders the solution unique is discussed. To illustrate the method of solution, two examples are presented for minimum-weight designs under dual loading of a simply supported beam and a beam built in at both ends. The present analysis is also extended to the following problems: (a) optimal design of a beam built in at both ends with piecewise specific stiffness and a prescribed deflection constraint and (b) minimum-cost design of a sandwich beam with prescribed deflection constraints.The results presented in this paper were obtained in the course of research supported partly by the US Army Research Office, Durham, North Carolina, Research Grant No. DA-ARO-31-G1008, and partly by the Office of Naval Research, Contract No. N00014-67-A-0109-0003, Task No. NR 064-496. The authors wish to express their thanks to Professor H. Halkin for pointing out the applicability of optimal control theory to the present problem and to Professor W. Prager for his valuable suggestions.