Finite volume element approximation and analysis for a kind of semiconductor device simulation

In this paper, we present a finite volume element scheme for a kind of two dimensional semiconductor device simulation. A general framework is developed for finite volume element approximation of the semiconductor problems. We construct a fully discrete finite volume element scheme based on triangulations with a piecewise linear finite element space and a general type of control volume. Optimal-order convergence in H ¹-norm is derived.     

Generalization bounds for function approximation from scattered noisy data

We consider the problem of approximating functions from scattered data using linear superpositions of non-linearly parameterized functions. We show how the total error (generalization error) can be decomposed into two parts: an approximation part that is due to the finite number of parameters of the approximation scheme used; and an estimation part that is due to the finite number of data available. We bound each of these two parts under certain assumptions and prove a general bound for a class of approximation schemes that include radial basis functions and multilayer perceptrons. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Thermoregulation of Infants: Modeling and Numerical Simulation

A mathematical model is developed and used for a computer simulation of the thermoregulation of premature infants. We propose a finite volume technique for the solution of the associated partial differential equation on an unstructured grid. Emphasis is laid on the model and the validation of the numerical scheme. Beside various test runs using real life data, we present a discrete maximum principle for the steady state solution with respect to the non-convex computational domain.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Finite Volume Method Preserving Maximum Principle for the Conjugate Heat Transfer Problems with General Interface Conditions

In this paper, we present a unified finite volume method preserving discrete maximum principle (DMP) for the conjugate heat transfer problems with general interface conditions. We prove the existence of the numerical solution and the DMP-preserving property. Numerical experiments show that the nonlinear iteration numbers of the scheme in [24] increase rapidly when the interfacial coefficients decrease to zero. In contrast, the nonlinear iteration numbers of the unified scheme do not increase when the interfacial coefficients decrease to zero, which reveals that the unified scheme is more robust than the scheme in [24]. The accuracy and DMP-preserving property of the scheme are also veried in the numerical experiments.     

Some recent advances on vertex centered finite volume element methods for elliptic equations

In this paper, we report our recent advances on vertex centered finite volume element methods (FVEMs) for second order partial differential equations (PDEs). We begin with a brief review on linear and quadratic finite volume schemes. Then we present our recent advances on finite volume schemes of arbitrary order. For each scheme, we first explain its construction and then perform its error analysis under both H ¹ and L ² norms along with study of superconvergence properties.     

Solution of double nonlinear problems in porous media by a combined finite volume–finite element algorithm

The combined finite volume–finite element scheme for a double nonlinear parabolic convection-dominated diffusion equation which models the variably saturated flow and contaminant transport problems in porous media is extended. Whereas the convection is approximated by a finite volume method (Multi-Point Flux Approximation), the diffusion is approximated by a finite element method. The scheme is fully implicit and involves a relaxation-regularized algorithm. Due to monotonicity and conservation properties of the approximated scheme and in view of the compactness theorem we show the convergence of the numerical scheme to the weak solution. Our scheme is applied for computing two dimensional examples with different degrees of complexity. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme gives good performance in convergence and accuracy.     

Generating Layer-Adapted Meshes Using Mesh Partial Differential Equations

We present a new algorithm for generating layer-adapted meshes for the finite element solution of singularly perturbed problems based on mesh partial differential equations (MPDEs). The ultimate goal is to design meshes that are similar to the well-known Bakhvalov meshes, but can be used in more general settings: specifically two-dimensional problems for which the optimal mesh is not tensor-product in nature. Our focus is on the efficient implementation of these algorithms, and numerical verification of their properties in a variety of settings. The MPDE is a nonlinear problem, and the efficiency with which it can be solved depends adversely on the magnitude of the perturbation parameter and the number of mesh intervals. We resolve this by proposing a scheme based on $h$-refinement. We present fully working FEniCS codes [Alnaes et al., Arch. Numer. Softw., 3 (100) (2015)] that implement these methods, facilitating their extension to other problems and settings.     

A full analysis of a new second order finite volume approximation based on a low-order scheme using general admissible spatial meshes for the unsteady one dimensional heat equation

The present work is an extension of our previous works ,  and  which dealt with first order (both in time and space) and second order time accurate (second order in time and first order in space) implicit finite volume schemes for parabolic equations. We aim in this work (and some forthcoming studies) at getting higher order (both in time and space) finite volume approximations for the exact solution of parabolic equations using the class of spatial generic meshes introduced recently in [13]. We focus in the present contribution on the one dimensional heat equation and its implicit finite volume scheme described in [3]. The implicit finite volume scheme approximating the one dimensional heat equation we consider (hereafter referred to as the basic finite volume scheme) yields linear systems to be solved successively. The matrices involved in these linear systems are tridiagonal. The finite volume approximate solution is of order h+k$h+k$, where h (resp. k  ) is the mesh size of the spatial (resp. time) discretization. We construct a new finite volume approximation of order (h+k)²${(h+k)}^2$ in several discrete norms which allows us to get approximations of order two for the exact solution and its first derivatives. This new high-order approximation can be computed using the same linear systems involved in the basic finite volume scheme while the right hand sides are corrected. The construction of these right hand sides includes the approximations of the second, third, and fourth spatial derivatives of the exact solution. The computation of the approximation of these high-order derivatives can be performed using the same matrices stated above with another two tridiagonal matrices. The manner by which this new high-order approximation is constructed can be repeated to compute successively finite volume approximations of arbitrary order using the same matrices stated above. These high-order approximations can be obtained on any one dimensional admissible finite volume mesh in the sense of [12] without any restrictive condition on the spatial mesh. A full analysis for the stated theoretical results as well as some numerical examples supporting the theory is presented. The results obtained in the present study are based essentially on two facts. The first fact is the use of the results provided in [3] which state the convergence order of the finite volume approximate solution in several norms. The second fact is the comparison between the stated new higher order approximations and suitable auxiliary finite volume approximations.     

Finite volume schemes for the approximation via characteristics of linear convection equations with irregular data

We consider the approximation by multidimensional finite volume schemes of the transport of an initial measure by a Lipschitz flow. We first consider a scheme defined via characteristics, and we prove the convergence to the continuous solution, as the time step and the ratio of the space step to the time step tend to zero. We then consider a second finite volume scheme, obtained from the first one by addition of some uniform numerical viscosity. We prove that this scheme converges to the continuous solution, as the space step tends to zero, whereas the ratio of the space step to the time step remains bounded by below and by above, and under assumption of uniform regularity of the mesh. This is obtained via an improved discrete Sobolev inequality and a sharp weak BV estimate, under some additional assumptions on the transport flow. Examples show the optimality of these assumptions.     

Volume growth, spectrum and stochastic completeness of infinite graphs

We study the connections between volume growth, spectral properties and stochastic completeness of locally finite weighted graphs. For a class of graphs with a very weak spherical symmetry we give a condition which implies both stochastic incompleteness and discreteness of the spectrum. We then use these graphs to give some comparison results for both stochastic completeness and estimates on the bottom of the spectrum for general locally finite weighted graphs.     

Convergence analysis of some high–order time accurate schemes for a finite volume method for second order hyperbolic equations on general nonconforming multidimensional spatial meshes

The present work is an extension of our previous work (Bradji, Numer Methods Partial Differ Equations, to appear) which dealt with error analysis of a finite volume scheme of a first convergence order (both in time and space) for second‐order hyperbolic equations on general nonconforming multidimensional spatial meshes introduced recently in (Eymard et al. IMAJ Numer Anal 30(2010), 1009–1043). We aim in this article to get some higher‐order time accurate schemes for a finite volume method for second‐order hyperbolic equations using the same class of spatial generic meshes stated above. We derive a family of finite volume schemes approximating the wave equation, as a model for second‐order hyperbolic equations, in which the discretization in time is performed using a one‐parameter scheme of the Newmark's method. We prove that the error estimate of these finite volume schemes is of order two (or four) in time and it is of optimal order in space. These error estimates are analyzed in several norms which allow us to derive approximations for the exact solution and its first derivatives whose the convergence order is two (or four) in time and it is optimal in space. We prove in particular, when the discrete flux is calculated using a stabilized discrete gradient, that the convergence order is \begin{align*}k^2+h_\mathcal{D}\end{align*} or \begin{align*}k^4+h_\mathcal{D}\end{align*}, where \begin{align*}h_\mathcal{D}\end{align*} (resp. k) is the mesh size of the spatial (resp. time) discretization. These estimates are valid under the regularity assumption \begin{align*}u\in C^4(\lbrack 0,T\rbrack;C^2(\overline{\Omega}))\end{align*}, when the schemes are second‐order accurate in time, and \begin{align*}u\in C^6(\lbrack 0,T\rbrack;C^2(\overline{\Omega}))\end{align*}, when the schemes are four‐order accurate in time for the exact solution u. The proof of these error estimates is based essentially on a comparison between the finite volume approximate solution and an auxiliary finite volume approximation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

An upwind finite volume scheme and its maximum‐principle‐preserving ADI splitting for unsteady‐state advection‐diffusion equations

We develop an upwind finite volume (UFV) scheme for unsteady‐state advection‐diffusion partial differential equations (PDEs) in multiple space dimensions. We apply an alternating direction implicit (ADI) splitting technique to accelerate the solution process of the numerical scheme. We investigate and analyze the reason why the conventional ADI splitting does not satisfy maximum principle in the context of advection‐diffusion PDEs. Based on the analysis, we propose a new ADI splitting of the upwind finite volume scheme, the alternating‐direction implicit, upwind finite volume (ADFV) scheme. We prove that both UFV and ADFV schemes satisfy maximum principle and are unconditionally stable. We also derive their error estimates. Numerical results are presented to observe the performance of these schemes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 211–226, 2003     

A new multipoint flux approximation method with a quasi-local stencil (MPFA-QL) for the simulation of diffusion problems in anisotropic and heterogeneous media

In this paper, we present a new linear cell-centered finite volume multipoint flux approximation (MPFA-QL) scheme for discretizing diffusion problems on general polygonal meshes. This scheme uses a quasi-local stencil, based upon the conormal decomposition, to approximate the control face flux when solving the steady state diffusion problem, being able to reproduce piecewise linear solutions exactly and it is very robust when dealing with heterogeneous and highly anisotropic media and severely distorted meshes. In our linear scheme, we first construct the one-sided fluxes on each control surface independently and then a unique flux expression is obtained by a convex combination of the one-sided fluxes. The unknown values at the vertices that define a control surface are interpolated by means of a linearity-preserving interpolation procedure, considering control volumes surrounding these vertices. To show the potential of the MPFA-QL scheme, we solve some benchmark using triangular and quadrilateral meshes and we compare our scheme with other numerical formulations found in literature.     

Convergence of a staggered Lax-Friedrichs scheme for nonlinear conservation laws on unstructured two-dimensional grids

Summary. Based on Nessyahu and Tadmor's nonoscillatory central difference schemes for one-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws [16], for higher dimensions several finite volume extensions and numerical results on structured and unstructured grids have been presented. The experiments show the wide applicability of these multidimensional schemes. The theoretical arguments which support this are some maximum-principles and a convergence proof in the scalar linear case. A general proof of convergence, as obtained for the original one-dimensional NT-schemes, does not exist for any of the extensions to multidimensional nonlinear problems. For the finite volume extension on two-dimensional unstructured grids introduced by Arminjon and Viallon [3,4] we present a proof of convergence for the first order scheme in case of a nonlinear scalar hyperbolic conservation law. Received April 8, 2000 / Published online December 19, 2000     

A finite volume scheme for convection–diffusion equations with nonlinear diffusion derived from the Scharfetter–Gummel scheme

We propose a finite volume scheme for convection–diffusion equations with nonlinear diffusion. Such equations arise in numerous physical contexts. We will particularly focus on the drift-diffusion system for semiconductors and the porous media equation. In these two cases, it is shown that the transient solution converges to a steady-state solution as t tends to infinity. The introduced scheme is an extension of the Scharfetter–Gummel scheme for nonlinear diffusion. It remains valid in the degenerate case and preserves steady-states. We prove the convergence of the scheme in the nondegenerate case. Finally, we present some numerical simulations applied to the two physical models introduced and we underline the efficiency of the scheme to preserve long-time behavior of the solutions.     

Analysis of stability and dispersion in a finite element method for Debye and Lorentz dispersive media

We study the stability properties of, and the phase error present in, a finite element scheme for Maxwell's equations coupled with a Debye or Lorentz polarization model. In one dimension we consider a second order formulation for the electric field with an ordinary differential equation for the electric polarization added as an auxiliary constraint. The finite element method uses linear finite elements in space for the electric field as well as the electric polarization, and a theta scheme for the time discretization. Numerical experiments suggest the method is unconditionally stable for both Debye and Lorentz models. We compare the stability and phase error properties of the method presented here with those of finite difference methods that have been analyzed in the literature. We also conduct numerical simulations that verify the stability and dispersion properties of the scheme. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2009     

Error analysis of upwind‐discretizations for the steady‐state incompressible Navier–Stokes equations

Within the framework of finite element methods, the paper investigates a general approximation technique for the nonlinear convective term of the Navier–Stokes equations. The approach is based on an upwind method of finite volume type. It is proved that the discrete convective term satisfies a well‐known collection of sufficient conditions for convergence of the finite element solution. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the Properties of Conservative Finite Volume Scheme for the Two-Phase Stefan Problem

Differential Equations - We study the properties of a finite volume scheme for the two-phase Stefan problem. The numerical algorithm based on the explicit interface tracking is considered. The...     

Study of the mixed finite volume method for Stokes and Navier‐Stokes equations

We present finite volume schemes for Stokes and Navier‐Stokes equations. These schemes are based on the mixed finite volume introduced in (Droniou and Eymard, Numer Math 105 (2006), 35‐71), and can be applied to any type of grid (without “orthogonality” assumptions as for classical finite volume methods) and in any space dimension. We present numerical results on some irregular grids, and we prove, for both Stokes and Navier‐Stokes equations, the convergence of the scheme toward a solution of the continuous problem. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2009