Boundary value problems in spaces of distributions on smooth and polygonal domains

We study boundary value problems of the form -Δu=f$-\mathrm{\Delta }u=f$ on Ω$\Omega$ and Bu=g$\mathit{Bu}=g$ on the boundary ∂Ω$\mathrm{\partial }\Omega$, with either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions, where Ω$\Omega$ is a smooth bounded domain in Rⁿ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ and the data f,g$f,g$ are distributions  . This problem has to be first properly reformulated and, for practical applications, it is of crucial importance to obtain the continuity of the solution u$u$ in terms of f and g  . For f=0$f=0$, taking advantage of the fact that u$u$ is harmonic on Ω$\Omega$, we provide four formulations of this boundary value problem (one using nontangential limits of harmonic functions, one using Green functions, one using the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map, and a variational one); we show that these four formulations are equivalent. We provide a similar analysis for f≠0$f\ne 0$ and discuss the roles of f and g, which turn to be somewhat interchangeable in the low regularity case. The weak formulation is more convenient for numerical approximation, whereas the nontangential limits definition is closer to the intuition and easier to check in concrete situations. We extend the weak formulation to polygonal domains using weighted Sobolev spaces. We also point out some new phenomena for the “concentrated loads” at the vertices in the polygonal case.     

Fem for Schrödinger equation with Rashba effect

A finite element method for treating two-dimensional electron systems with Rashba spin–orbit interaction is developed. The Rashba spin–orbit interaction removes spin degeneracy, so that each spin contributes to the conductance differently. By accounting for the connection between a system and leads, this method yields the conductance of a nanoscale quantum device for each spin state. As an example, this calculation method is applied to a model of a quantum point contact. The results of this calculation indicate conductance quantization and a large spin polarization. We discuss the estimated accuracies of this calculation.     

Residual reduction algorithms for nonsymmetric saddle point problems

In this paper, we introduce and analyze Uzawa algorithms for non-symmetric saddle point systems. Convergence for the algorithms is established based on new spectral results about Schur complements. A new Uzawa type algorithm with optimal relaxation parameters at each new iteration is introduced and analyzed in a general framework. Numerical results supporting the efficiency of the algorithms are presented for finite element discretization of steady state Navier-Stokes equations.     

Toward a Hybrid-Trefftz element with a hole for elasto-plasticity?

The paper deals with the modelling of riveted assemblies for full-scale complete aircraft crashworthiness. Many comparisons between experiments and FE computations of bird impacts onto aluminium riveted panels have shown that macroscopic plastic strains were not sufficiently developed (and localised) in the riveted shell FE in the impact area. Consequently, FE models never succeed in initialising and propagating the rupture in the sheet metal plates and along rivet rows as shown by experiments, without calibrating the input data (especially the damage and failure properties of the riveted shell FE). To model the assembly correctly, it appears necessary to investigate on FE techniques such as Hybrid-Trefftz finite element method (H-T FEM). Indeed, perforated FE plates developed for elastic problems, based on a Hybrid-Trefftz formulation, have been found in the open literature. Our purpose is to find a way to extend this formulation so that the super-element can be used for crashworthiness. To reach this aim, the main features of an elastic Hybrid-Trefftz plate are presented and are then followed by a discussion on the possible extensions. Finally, the interpolation functions of the element are evaluated numerically.     

Controllability method for acoustic scattering with spectral elements

We formulate the Helmholtz equation as an exact controllability problem for the time-dependent wave equation. The problem is then discretized in time domain with central finite difference scheme and in space domain with spectral elements. This approach leads to high accuracy in spatial discretization. Moreover, the spectral element method results in diagonal mass matrices, which makes the time integration of the wave equation highly efficient. After discretization, the exact controllability problem is reformulated as a least-squares problem, which is solved by the conjugate gradient method. We illustrate the method with some numerical experiments, which demonstrate the significant improvements in efficiency due to the higher order spectral elements. For a given accuracy, the controllability technique with spectral element method requires fewer computational operations than with conventional finite element method. In addition, by using higher order polynomial basis the influence of the pollution effect is reduced.     

A Chebyshev spectral collocation method for solving Burgers’-type equations

In this paper, we elaborated a spectral collocation method based on differentiated Chebyshev polynomials to obtain numerical solutions for some different kinds of nonlinear partial differential equations. The problem is reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations that are solved by Runge–Kutta method of order four. Numerical results for the nonlinear evolution equations such as 1D Burgers’, KdV–Burgers’, coupled Burgers’, 2D Burgers’ and system of 2D Burgers’ equations are obtained. The numerical results are found to be in good agreement with the exact solutions. Numerical computations for a wide range of values of Reynolds’ number, show that the present method offers better accuracy in comparison with other previous methods. Moreover the method can be applied to a wide class of nonlinear partial differential equations.     

A hinged plate equation and iterated Dirichlet Laplace operator on domains with concave corners

Fourth order hinged plate type problems are usually solved via a system of two second order equations. For smooth domains such an approach can be justified. However, when the domain has a concave corner the bi-Laplace problem with Navier boundary conditions may have two different types of solutions, namely u₁ with and . We will compare these two solutions. A striking difference is that in general only the first solution, obtained by decoupling into a system, preserves positivity, that is, a positive source implies that the solution is positive. The other type of solution is more relevant in the context of the hinged plate. We will also address the higher-dimensional case. Our main analytical tools will be the weighted Sobolev spaces that originate from Kondratiev. In two dimensions we will show an alternative that uses conformal transformation. Next to rigorous proofs the results are illustrated by some numerical experiments for planar domains.     

Schur complements on Hilbert spaces and saddle point systems

For any continuous bilinear form defined on a pair of Hilbert spaces satisfying the compatibility Ladyshenskaya–Babušca–Brezzi condition, symmetric Schur complement operators can be defined on each of the two Hilbert spaces. In this paper, we find bounds for the spectrum of the Schur operators only in terms of the compatibility and continuity constants. In light of the new spectral results for the Schur complements, we review the classical Babušca–Brezzi theory, find sharp stability estimates, and improve a convergence result for the inexact Uzawa algorithm. We prove that for any symmetric saddle point problem, the inexact Uzawa algorithm converges, provided that the inexact process for inverting the residual at each step has the relative error smaller than 1/3. As a consequence, we provide a new type of algorithm for discretizing saddle point problems, which combines the inexact Uzawa iterations with standard a posteriori error analysis and does not require the discrete stability conditions.     

Existence and approximation results for shape optimization problems in rotordynamics

We consider a shape optimization problem in rotordynamics where the mass of a rotor is minimized subject to constraints on the natural frequencies. Our analysis is based on a class of rotors described by a Rayleigh beam model including effects of rotary inertia and gyroscopic moments. The solution of the equation of motion leads to a generalized eigenvalue problem. The governing operators are non-symmetric due to the gyroscopic terms. We prove the existence of solutions for the optimization problem by using the theory of compact operators. For the numerical treatment of the problem a finite element discretization based on a variational formulation is considered. Applying results on spectral approximation of linear operators we prove that the solution of the discretized optimization problem converges towards the solution of the continuous problem if the discretization parameter tends to zero. Finally, a priori estimates for the convergence order of the eigenvalues are presented and illustrated by a numerical example.     

A priori and a posteriori error analyses in the study of viscoelastic problems

In this work, the numerical approximation of a viscoelastic problem is studied. A fully discrete scheme is introduced by using the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and an Euler scheme to discretize time derivatives. Then, two numerical analyses are presented. First, a priori estimates are proved from which the linear convergence of the algorithm is derived under suitable regularity conditions. Secondly, an a posteriori error analysis is provided extending some preliminary results obtained in the study of the heat equation. Upper and lower error bounds are obtained.     

Variational principles with integrands defined through a minimum

We revisit a systematic approach for the computation and analysis of the convex hull of non-convex integrands defined through the minimum of convex densities. It consists in reformulating the non-convex variational problem as a double minimization and exploiting appropriately the nature of optimality of the inner minimization. This requires gradient Young measures in the vector case, even if the initial problem was scalar, as the full problem is recast through the computation of a certain quasiconvexification. We illustrate this strategy by looking at two typical non-convex scalar problems. We hope to address vector problems in the near future.     

Linear and bilinear immersed finite elements for planar elasticity interface problems

This article is to discuss the linear (which was proposed in  and ) and bilinear immersed finite element (IFE) methods for solving planar elasticity interface problems with structured Cartesian meshes. Basic features of linear and bilinear IFE functions, including the unisolvent property, will be discussed. While both methods have comparable accuracy, the bilinear IFE method requires less time for assembling its algebraic system. Our analysis further indicates that the bilinear IFE functions are guaranteed to be applicable to a larger class of elasticity interface problems than linear IFE functions. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that both linear and bilinear IFE spaces have the optimal approximation capability, and that numerical solutions produced by a Galerkin method with these IFE functions for elasticity interface problem also converge optimally in both L²$L^2$ and semi-H¹$H^1$ norms.     

Numerical simulation of airfoil vibrations induced by turbulent flow

The subject of this paper is the numerical simulation of the interaction between two-dimensional incompressible viscous flow and a vibrating airfoil. A solid elastically supported airfoil with two degrees of freedom, which can rotate around the elastic axis and oscillate in the vertical direction, is considered. The numerical simulation consists of the stabilized finite element solution of the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations with algebraic models of turbulence, coupled with the system of ordinary differential equations describing the airfoil motion. Since the computational domain is time dependent and the grid is moving, the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method is used. The developed method was applied to the simulation of flow-induced airfoil vibrations.     

A normal compliance contact problem in viscoelasticity: An a posteriori error analysis and computational experiments

In this work, the numerical approximation of a viscoelastic contact problem is studied. The classical Kelvin-Voigt constitutive law is employed, and contact is assumed with a deformable obstacle and modelled using the normal compliance condition. The variational formulation leads to a nonlinear parabolic variational equation. An existence and uniqueness result is recalled. Then, a fully discrete scheme is introduced, by using the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the implicit Euler scheme to discretize time derivatives. A priori error estimates recently proved for this problem are recalled. Then, an a posteriori error analysis is provided, extending some preliminary results obtained in the study of the heat equation and other parabolic equations. Upper and lower error bounds are proved. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the numerical behaviour of the error estimates.     

A variational framework for nonlinear viscoelastic models in finite deformation regime

This work presents a general framework for constitutive viscoelastic models in the finite deformation regime. The approach is qualified as variational since the constitutive updates consist of a minimization problem within each load increment. The set of internal variables is strain-based and uses a multiplicative decomposition of strain in elastic and viscous components. Spectral decomposition is explored in order to accommodate, into analytically tractable expressions, a wide set of specific models. Moreover, it is shown that, through appropriate choices of the constitutive potentials, the proposed formulation is able to reproduce results obtained elsewhere in the literature. Finally, numerical examples are included to illustrate the characteristics of the present formulation.     

Spectral methods in linear minimax estimation

We consider the minimax-linear estimator in a linear regression model with circular constraints. Two necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimality of an estimator, the socalled left spectral equation and the right spectral equation (Girko spectral equation), are derived. For the special case of a simple maximal eigenvalue and a single eigenspace explicit estimation formulas are derived. These formulas also show some of the shortcomings of the minimax-linear estimator (MILE). Finally, the relation with Bayesian analysis and the Hoffmann-Läuter estimator is outlined.     

Numerical analysis of a frictional contact problem for viscoelastic materials with long-term memory

We consider a mathematical model which describes the bilateral contact between a deformable body and an obstacle. The process is quasistatic, the material is assumed to be viscoelastic with long memory and the friction is modeled with Tresca’s law. The problem has a unique weak solution. Here we study spatially semi-discrete and fully discrete schemes using finite differences and finite elements. We show the convergence of the schemes under the basic solution regularity and we derive order error estimates. Finally, we present an algorithm for the numerical realization and simulations for a two-dimensional test problem.     

Robust smoothers for high-order discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of advection–diffusion problems

The multigrid method for discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretizations of advection–diffusion problems is presented. It is based on a block Gauss–Seidel smoother with downwind ordering honoring the advection operator. The cell matrices of the DG scheme are inverted in this smoother in order to obtain robustness for higher order elements. Employing a set of experiments, we show that this technique actually yields an efficient preconditioner and that both ingredients, downwind ordering and blocking of cell matrices are crucial for robustness.     

On the design of algebraic flux correction schemes for quadratic finite elements

A fully algebraic approach to the design of nonlinear high-resolution schemes is revisited and extended to quadratic finite elements. The matrices resulting from a standard Galerkin discretization are modified so as to satisfy sufficient conditions of the discrete maximum principle for nodal values. In order to provide mass conservation, the perturbation terms are assembled from skew-symmetric internodal fluxes which are redefined as a combination of first- and second-order divided differences. The new approach to the construction of artificial diffusion operators is combined with a node-oriented limiting strategy. The resulting algorithm is applied to _P1$P_1$ and _P2$P_2$ approximations of stationary convection–diffusion equations in 1D/2D.     

Variable electrical and thermal conductivity in the theory of generalized thermoelastic diffusion

This paper deals with the problem of a thermoelastic half-space with a permeating substance in contact with the bounding plane in the context of the theory of generalized thermoelastic diffusion with one relaxation time and with variable electrical and thermal conductivity. The bounding surface of the half-space is taken to be traction free and subjected to a time dependent thermal shock. The solution is obtained in the Laplace transform domain by a direct approach. A numerical technique is employed to obtain the solution in the physical domain. It is found that there exist two coupled waves, one of which is elastic and the other is thermal, and a third wave affects diffusion mainly. A comparison is made with the results obtained in a thermoelastic medium with and without diffusion in the following cases : (a) the electrical and thermal conductivities have constant values, (b) the presence of magnetic field and (c) the generalized theory in thermoelasticity. Received: June 1, 2005