A discontinuous mixed covolume method for elliptic problems

We develop a discontinuous mixed covolume method for elliptic problems on triangular meshes. An optimal error estimate for the approximation of velocity is obtained in a mesh-dependent norm. First-order L²-error estimates are derived for the approximations of both velocity and pressure.     

Expanded mixed finite element methods for the problem of purely longitudinal motion of a homogeneous bar

In this paper, expanded mixed finite element methods for the initial-boundary-value problem of purely longitudinal motion equation of a homogeneous bar are proposed and analyzed. Optimal error estimates for the approximations of displacement in L² norm and stress in H¹ norm are obtained.     

Error and extrapolation of a compact LOD method for parabolic differential equations

This paper is concerned with a compact locally one-dimensional (LOD) finite difference method for solving two-dimensional nonhomogeneous parabolic differential equations. An explicit error estimate for the finite difference solution is given in the discrete infinity norm. It is shown that the method has the accuracy of the second-order in time and the fourth-order in space with respect to the discrete infinity norm. A Richardson extrapolation algorithm is developed to make the final computed solution fourth-order accurate in both time and space when the time step equals the spatial mesh size. Numerical results demonstrate the accuracy and the high efficiency of the extrapolation algorithm.     

A second order backward difference method with variable steps for a parabolic problem

The numerical solution of a parabolic problem is studied. The equation is discretized in time by means of a second order two step backward difference method with variable time step. A stability result is proved by the energy method under certain restrictions on the ratios of successive time steps. Error estimates are derived and applications are given to homogenous equations with initial data of low regularity.     

A second-order accurate numerical method for a fractional wave equation

We study a generalized Crank–Nicolson scheme for the time discretization of a fractional wave equation, in combination with a space discretization by linear finite elements. The scheme uses a non-uniform grid in time to compensate for the singular behaviour of the exact solution at t = 0. With appropriate assumptions on the data and assuming that the spatial domain is convex or smooth, we show that the error is of order k ² + h ², where k and h are the parameters for the time and space meshes, respectively.     

Error estimate for the upwind finite volume method for the nonlinear scalar conservation law

In this paper we estimate the error of upwind first order finite volume schemes applied to scalar conservation laws. As a first step, we consider standard upwind and flux finite volume scheme discretization of a linear equation with space variable coefficients in conservation form. We prove that, in spite of their lack of consistency, both schemes lead to a first order error estimate. As a final step, we prove a similar estimate for the nonlinear case. Our proofs rely on the notion of geometric corrector, introduced in our previous paper by Bouche et al. (2005) [24] in the context of constant coefficient linear advection equations.     

A priori error estimation for the dual mixed finite element method of the elastodynamic problem in a polygonal domain, I

In this paper we analyze a new dual mixed formulation of the elastodynamic system in polygonal domains. In this formulation the symmetry of the strain tensor is relaxed by the rotation of the displacement. For the time discretization of this new dual mixed formulation, we use an explicit scheme. After the analysis of stability of the fully discrete scheme, L^∞ in time, L² in space a priori error estimates are derived for the approximation of the displacement, the strain, the pressure and the rotation. Numerical experiments confirm our theoretical predictions.     

A convergent scheme for a non local Hamilton Jacobi equation modelling dislocation dynamics

We study dislocation dynamics with a level set point of view. The model we present here looks at the zero level set of the solution of a non local Hamilton Jacobi equation, as a dislocation in a plane of a crystal. The front has a normal speed, depending on the solution itself. We prove existence and uniqueness for short time in the set of continuous viscosity solutions. We also present a first order finite difference scheme for the corresponding level set formulation of the model. The scheme is based on monotone numerical Hamiltonian, proposed by Osher and Sethian. The non local character of the problem makes it not monotone. We obtain an explicit convergence rate of the approximate solution to the viscosity solution. We finally provide numerical simulations.This work has been supported by funds from ACI JC 1041 “Mouvements d’interfaces avec termes non-locaux”, from ACI-JC 1025 “Dynamique des dislocations” and from ONERA, Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches. The second author was also supported by the ENPC-Région Ile de France.     

A priori error estimation for the dual mixed finite element method of the elastodynamic problem in a polygonal domain, II

In this paper we analyze a new dual mixed formulation of the elastodynamic system in polygonal domains by using an implicit scheme for the time discretization. After the analysis of stability of the fully discrete scheme, L^∞ in time, L² in space a priori error estimates for the approximation of the displacement, the strain, the pressure and the rotational are derived. Numerical tests are presented which confirm our theoretical results.     

A convergent adaptive finite element method for an optimal design problem

The optimal design problem for maximal torsion stiffness of an infinite bar of given geometry and unknown distribution of two materials of prescribed amounts is one model example in topology optimisation. It eventually leads to a degenerate convex minimisation problem. The numerical analysis is therefore delicate for possibly multiple primal variables u but unique derivatives σ : = DW(D u). Even fine a posteriori error estimates still suffer from the reliability-efficiency gap. However, it motivates a simple edge-based adaptive mesh-refining algorithm (AFEM) that is not a priori guaranteed to refine everywhere. Its convergence proof is therefore based on energy estimates and some refined convexity control. Numerical experiments illustrate even nearly optimal convergence rates of the proposed AFEM. Supported by the DFG Research Center MATHEON “Mathematics for key technologies” in Berlin.     

Superconvergence of mixed covolume method for elliptic problems on triangular grids

In this paper, we consider the superconvergence of a mixed covolume method on the quasi-uniform triangular grids for the variable coefficient-matrix Poisson equations. The superconvergence estimates between the solution of the mixed covolume method and that of the mixed finite element method have been obtained. With these superconvergence estimates, we establish the superconvergence estimates and the L^∞$L^{\infty }$-error estimates for the mixed covolume method for the elliptic problems. Based on the superconvergence of the mixed covolume method, under the condition that the triangulation is uniform, we construct a post-processing method for the approximate velocity which improves the order of approximation of the approximate velocity.     

A finite element method for the Tricomi problem

Summary We consider the numerical solution of the Tricomi problem. Using a weak formulation based on different spaces of test and trial functions, we construct a new Galerkin procedure for the Tricomi problem. Existence, uniqueness, and uniform stability of the approximate solution is proven, and a priori error bounds are given.Research supported in part by the Department of Energy under contract DOE E(40-1)3443     

A qualocation method for Burgers’ equation

In this paper, a qualocation method for the one-dimensional Burgers’ equation is proposed. A semidiscrete scheme along with optimal error estimates is discussed. Results of a numerical experiment performed support the theoretical results.     

A robust and accurate finite difference method for a generalized Black-Scholes equation

In this paper we present a numerical method for a generalized Black-Scholes equation, which is used for option pricing. The method is based on a central difference spatial discretization on a piecewise uniform mesh and an implicit time stepping technique. Our scheme is stable for arbitrary volatility and arbitrary interest rate, and is second-order convergent with respect to the spatial variable. Furthermore, the present paper efficiently treats the singularities of the non-smooth payoff function. Numerical results support the theoretical results.     

The role of coefficients of a general SPDE on the stability and convergence of a finite difference method

In this paper for the approximate solution of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) of Itô-type, the stability and application of a class of finite difference method with regard to the coefficients in the equations is analyzed. The finite difference methods discussed here will be either explicit or implicit and a comparison between them will be reported. We prove the consistency and stability of these methods and investigate the influence of the multiplier (particularly multiplier of the random noise) in mean square stability. From stochastic version of Lax-Richtmyer the convergence of these methods under some conditions are established. Numerical experiments are included to show the efficiency of the methods.     

Multigrid algorithms for a vertex–centered covolume method for elliptic problems

Summary. We analyze V–cycle multigrid algorithms for a class of perturbed problems whose perturbation in the bilinear form preserves the convergence properties of the multigrid algorithm of the original problem. As an application, we study the convergence of multigrid algorithms for a covolume method or a vertex–centered finite volume element method for variable coefficient elliptic problems on polygonal domains. As in standard finite element methods, the V–cycle algorithm with one pre-smoothing converges with a rate independent of the number of levels. Various types of smoothers including point or line Jacobi, and Gauss-Seidel relaxation are considered. Received August 19, 1999 / Revised version received July 10, 2000 / Published online June 7, 2001     

Numerical solution of a two-dimensional hyperbolic transmission problem

An initial boundary value problem for a two-dimensional hyperbolic equation in two disjoint rectangles is investigated. The existence and uniqueness and a priori estimates for weak solutions in appropriate Sobolev-like spaces are proved. Few finite difference schemes approximating this problem are proposed and analyzed.     

Maximum norm error estimates of efficient difference schemes for second-order wave equations

The three-level explicit scheme is efficient for numerical approximation of the second-order wave equations. By employing a fourth-order accurate scheme to approximate the solution at first time level, it is shown that the discrete solution is conditionally convergent in the maximum norm with the convergence order of two. Since the asymptotic expansion of the difference solution consists of odd powers of the mesh parameters (time step and spacings), an unusual Richardson extrapolation formula is needed in promoting the second-order solution to fourth-order accuracy. Extensions of our technique to the classical ADI scheme also yield the maximum norm error estimate of the discrete solution and its extrapolation. Numerical experiments are presented to support our theoretical results.