Projektive Newton-Verfahren und Anwendungen auf nichtlineare Randwertaufgaben

Summary In this paper we consider the following Newton-like methods for the solution of nonlinear equations. In each step of the Newton method the linear equations are solved approximatively by a projection method. We call this a Projective Newton method. For a fixed projection method the approximations often are the same as those of the Newton method applied to a nonlinear projection method. But the efficiency can be increased by adapting the accuracy of the projection method to the convergence of the approximations. We investigate the convergence and the order of convergence for these methods. The results are applied to some Projective Newton methods for nonlinear two point boundary value problems. Some numerical results indicate the efficiency of these methods.

     

SharpL ∞-error estimates for semilinear elliptic problems with free boundaries

Summary A numerical scheme to approximate a semilinear PDE involving a (singular) maximal monotone graph is analyzed inL . A preliminary regularization is combined with piecewise linear finite elements defined on a triangulation which is not assumed to be acute; the discrete maximum principle is thus avoided. Sharp pointwise error estimates are derived for both the smoothing and the discretization procedures. An optimal choice of the regularization parameter as a function of the mesh size leads to a sharp global rate of convergence. These error estimates for solutions, in conjunction with nondegeneracy properties of continuous problems, provide sharp interface error estimates. Two model examples are discussed: the obstacle problem and a combustion equation.This work was partially supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Italy while the author was in residence at the Istituto di Analisi Numerica del C.N.R. di Pavia     

On box schemes for elartliptic variational inequalities

General finite volume approximations in two and three space dimensions are studied for the discretization of interior and boundary obstacle problems with mixed boundary conditions. First order convergence of the finite volume (box) solution is shown in the energy norm. Based on a discrete maximum principle there are proposed two penalization techniques for the solution of the finite volume inequalities. By coupling of discretization and penalty parameters the overall error is analyzed. The iterative solution of the penalty problems is discussed. Finally, results of numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the convergence behaviour between the exact, the box and the penalty solutions.     

Finite elements for parabolic equations backwards in time

Summary Several regularization methods for parabolic equations backwards in time together with the usual additional constraints for their solution are considered. The error of the regularization is estimated from above and below. For a boundary value problem in time-method, finite elements as well as a time discretization are introduced and the error with respect to the regularized solution is estimated, thus giving an overall error of the discrete regularized problem. The algorithm is tested in simple numerical examples.     

Spectral approximation of the periodic-nonperiodic Navier-Stokes equations

Summary In order to approximate the Navier-Stokes equations with periodic boundary conditions in two directions and a no-slip boundary condition in the third direction by spectral methods, we justify by theoretical arguments an appropriate choice of discrete spaces for the velocity and the pressure. The compatibility between these two spaces is checked via an infsup condition. We analyze a spectral and a collocation pseudo-spectral method for the Stokes problem and a collocation pseudo-spectral method for the Navier-Stokes equations. We derive error bounds of spectral type, i.e. which behave likeM ^– whereM depends on the number of degrees of freedom of the method and represents the regularity of the data.     

The numerical solutions of interface problems by infinite element method

Summary In this paper we derive error estimates for infinite element method used in the approximation of solutions of interface problems. Furthermore, approximations of stress intensity factors are given. The infinite element method may be considered as a certain scheme of mesh refinement, but it has the advantages that the refinement is easy to be constructed that the stiffness matrix can be calculated efficiently, and that an approximate solution which has a singularity at the singular point can be also obtained.     

On the stability of bilinear-constant velocity-pressure finite elements

Summary An analysis of the Babuka stability of bilinear/constant finite element pairs for viscous flow calculations is given. An unstable mode not of the checkerboard type is given for which the stability constant turns out to beO(h). Thus, the indicated spaces are not stable in general for numerical calculation.Work supported by U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant AF-AFOSR-82-0213     

Equilibrium finite elements for the linear elastic problem

Summary We consider a class of equilibrium finite element methods for elasticity problems. The approximate stresses satisfy the equilibrium equations but the symmetry of the stress tensor is relaxed. Optimal error bounds for the stresses and numerical examples are given.     

Superconvergence for a mixed finite elmenent method for elastic wave propagation in a plane domain

Summary A higher order mixed finite element method is introduced to approximate the solution of wave propagation in a plane elastic medium. A quasi-projection analysis is given to obtain error estimates in Sobolev spaces of nonpositive index. Estimates are given for difference quotients for a spatially periodic problem and superconvergence results of the same type as those of Bramble and Schatz for Galerkin methods are derived.     

On patched variational principles with application to elliptic and mixed elliptic-hyperbolic problems

Summary Variational principles are important tools for the approximate solution of boundary-value problems. There are many types of variational principles, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. In this paper we show how to use a combination of variational principles, each for a given subregion of the underlying region of space, so as to best utilize the chief benefits of the individual principles. Such a patched principle is particularly useful in solving transonic flow problems, where we use different principles in the elliptic and hyperbolic regions. We present the results of some numerical experiments for the Tricomi problem. These seem to indicate that our patched principle, when used in conjunction with the finite element method, leads to accuracy which is second-order in the mesh spacing, as compared to the standard numerical methods of solving this problem, which are only first-order.     

A finite element lumped mass scheme for solving eigenvalue problems of circular arches

Summary In this paper, we present a finite element lumped mass scheme for eigenvalue problems of circular arch structures, and give error estimates for the approximation. They assert that approximate eigenvalues and eigenfuctions converge to the exact ones. Some numerical examples are also given to illustrate our results.     

On conforming finite element methods for the inhomogeneous stationary Navier-Stokes equations

Summary We consider the stationary Navier-Stokes equations, written in terms of the primitive variables, in the case where both the partial differential equations and boundary conditions are inhomogeneous. Under certain conditions on the data, the existence and uniqueness of the solution of a weak formulation of the equations can be guaranteed. A conforming finite element method is presented and optimal estimates for the error of the approximate solution are proved. In addition, the convergence properties of iterative methods for the solution of the discrete nonlinear algebraic systems resulting from the finite element algorithm are given. Numerical examples, using an efficient choice of finite element spaces, are also provided.Supported, in part, by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant No. AF-AFOSR-80-0083Supported, in part, by the same agency under Grant No. AF-AFOSR-80-0176-A. Both authors were also partially supported by NASA Contract No. NAS1-15810 while they were in residence at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665, USA     

Pointwise accuracy of a finite element method for nonlinear variational inequalities

Summary Consider the following quasilinear elliptic PDE, which is equivalent to a nonlinear variational inequality: –divF(u)+(u)f. Here is a singular maximal monotone graph and the nonlinear differential operator is only assumed to be monotone; surfaces of prescribed mean curvature over obstacles may thus be viewed as relevant examples. The numerical approximation proposed in this paper consists of combining continuous piecewise linear finite elements with a preliminary regularization of . The resulting scheme is shown to be quasi-optimally accurate inL . The underlying analysis makes use of both a topological technique and a sharpL ^p -duality argument.This work was partially supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Italy while the author was in residence at the Istituto di Analisi Numerica del C.N.R. di Pavia     

Sur les éléments finis rationnels de Serendip de degré quelconque

Summary A general construction of rational finite elements of serendip type on convex quadrilaterals is described in this paper. A first technique consists in eliminating formerly introduced nodes; a second possibility is to use the transformation of Coxeter-Wachspress. Error bounds are given for the associate interpolation.

     

A relaxation procedure for domain decomposition methods using finite elements

Summary We present the convergence analysis of a new domain decomposition technique for finite element approximations. This technique was introduced in [11] and is based on an iterative procedure among subdomains in which transmission conditions at interfaces are taken into account partly in one subdomain and partly in its adjacent. No global preconditioner is needed in the practice, but simply single-domain finite element solvers are required. An optimal strategy for an automatic selection of a relaxation parameter to be used at interface subdomains is indicated. Applications are given to both elliptic equations and incompressible Stokes equations.     

A family of mixed finite elements for linear elasticity

Summary A family of finite elements for use in mixed formulations of linear elasticity is developed. The stresses are not required to be symmetric, but only to satisfy a weaker condition based upon Lagrange multipliers. This is based on the same formulation used in the PEERS finite element spaces. Elements for both two and three dimensional problems are given. Error analysis on these elements is done, and some superconvergence results are proved.     

Pointwise error estimates for a streamline diffusion finite element scheme

Summary Pointwise error estimates for a streamline diffusion scheme for solving a model convection-dominated singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem are given. These estimates improve pointwise error estimates obtained by Johnson et al.[5].     

Approximation of tricomi problem with Neumann boundary condition

Summary The Tricomi problem with Neumann boundary condition is reduced to a degenerate problem in the elliptic region with a non-local boundary condition and to a Cauchy problem in the hyperbolic region. A variational formulation is given to the elliptic problem and a finite element approximation is studied. Also some regularity results in weighted Sobolev spaces are discussed.     

Projektive Newton-Verfahren bei elliptischen Randwertaufgaben

Summary In this paper we investigate projective Newton methods for nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems. These methods yield approximations by solving the linear equations of the Newton method by a projection method, e.g. the Ritz method. Using subspaces of finite elements or polynominals we obtain error estimates and optimal convergence theorems (inH ₁ andL ₂).

     

Numerical solution for exterior problems

Summary We solve the Helmholtz equation in an exterior domain in the plane. A perfect absorption condition is introduced on a circle which contains the obstacle. This boundary condition is given explicitly by Bessel functions. We use a finite element method in the bounded domain. An explicit formula is used to compute the solution out of the circle. We give an error estimate and we present relevant numerical results.