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     

Analysis and convergence of finite volume method using discontinuous bilinear functions

We develop finite volume method using discontinuous bilinear functions on rectangular mesh. This method is analyzed for the Stokes equations. 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. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2007     

Approximating Rough Stochastic PDEs

We study approximations to a class of vector‐valued equations of Burgers type driven by a multiplicative space‐time white noise. A solution theory for this class of equations has been developed recently in Probability Theory Related Fields by Hairer and Weber. The key idea was to use the theory of controlled rough paths to give definitions of weak/mild solutions and to set up a Picard iteration argument. In this article the limiting behavior of a rather large class of (spatial) approximations to these equations is studied. These approximations are shown to converge and convergence rates are given, but the limit may depend on the particular choice of approximation. This effect is a spatial analogue to the Itô‐Stratonovich correction in the theory of stochastic ordinary differential equations, where it is well known that different approximation schemes may converge to different solutions.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A FEM–DtN formulation for a non‐linear exterior problem in incompressible elasticity

In this paper, we combine the usual finite element method with a Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann (DtN) mapping, derived in terms of an infinite Fourier series, to study the solvability and Galerkin approximations of an exterior transmission problem arising in non‐linear incompressible 2d‐elasticity. We show that the variational formulation can be written in a Stokes‐type mixed form with a linear constraint and a non‐linear main operator. Then, we provide the uniqueness of solution for the continuous and discrete formulations, and derive a Cea‐type estimate for the associated error. In particular, our error analysis considers the practical case in which the DtN mapping is approximated by the corresponding finite Fourier series. Finally, a reliable a posteriori error estimate, well suited for adaptive computations, is also given. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical smoothness and error analysis on WENO for the nonlinear conservation laws

In this study, we give an a posteriori error analysis on the weighted essentially nonoscillatory schemes for the nonlinear scalar conservation laws. This analysis is based on the new concept of numerical smoothness, with some new error analysis mechanisms developed for the finite difference and finite volume discretizations. The local error estimate is of optimal order in space and time. The global error estimate grows linearly in time, because of the direct application of the L₁ ‐contraction between entropy solutions in the error propagation analysis. As a beginning, we only deal with smooth solutions in this article. Within the same error propagation framework, when we deal with piecewise smooth solutions later, we only need to work on estimating the local error where smoothness is lost. The smoothness indicators not only serve the purpose of local error estimation, but also serve as a monitor on both the possible numerical instability and the expected solution shapening. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

A posteriori error estimate for the Stokes–Darcy system

We consider the a posteriori error estimates for finite element approximations of the Stokes–Darcy system. The finite element spaces adopted are the Hood–Taylor element for the velocity and the pressure in fluid region and conforming piecewise quadratic element for the pressure in porous media region. The a posteriori error estimate is based on a suitable evaluation on the residual of the finite element solution. It is proven that the a posteriori error estimate provided in this paper is both reliable and efficient. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Posteriori Error Estimates for Distributed Convex Optimal Control Problems

In this paper, we present an a posteriori error analysis for finite element approximation of distributed convex optimal control problems. We derive a posteriori error estimates for the coupled state and control approximations under some assumptions which hold in many applications. Such estimates, which are apparently not available in the literature, can be used to construct reliable adaptive finite element approximation schemes for control problems. Explicit estimates are obtained for some model problems which frequently appear in real-life applications.     

A posteriori estimates for eigenvalue/vector approximations

We combine abstract eigenvalue/eigenvector estimates (from our earlier work) with a saturation assumption for finite element solution of associated stationary problem to obtain a posteriori estimates of the accuracy of finite element Rayleigh–Ritz approximations. Attention will be payed to the interplay between the accuracy estimate for the finite element method and a strategy for generating an adapted mesh. The obtained results use a preconditioned residuum of Neymeyr and extend his study of eigenvalue approximations with eigenvector estimates. We also prove that this eigenvalue estimator is equivalent to the global error. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A posteriori error estimation for elliptic eigenproblems

An a posteriori error estimator is presented for a subspace implementation of preconditioned inverse iteration, which derives from the well‐known inverse iteration in such a way that the associated system of linear equations is solved approximately by using a preconditioner. The error estimator is integrated in an adaptive multigrid algorithm to compute approximations of a modest number of the smallest eigenvalues together with the eigenfunctions of an elliptic differential operator. Error estimation is applied both within the actual finite element space (in order to estimate the iteration error) as well as in its hierarchical refinement of higher‐order elements (to estimate the discretization error) which gives rise to a balanced reduction of the iteration error and of the discretization error in the adaptive multigrid algorithm. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonstandard finite difference schemes for a class of generalized convection–diffusion–reaction equations

In this work, a class of nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes are proposed to approximate the solutions of a class of generalized convection–diffusion–reaction equations. First, in the case of no diffusion, two exact finite difference schemes are presented using the method of characteristics. Based on these two exact schemes, a class of exact schemes are presented by introducing a parameter α. Second, since the forms of these exact schemes are so complicated that they are not convenient to use, a class of NSFD schemes are derived from the exact schemes using numerical approximations. It follows that, under certain conditions about denominator function of time‐step sizes, these NSFD schemes are elementary stable and the solutions are positive and bounded. Third, by means of the Mickens' technique of subequations, a new class of implicit NSFD schemes are constructed for the full convection–diffusion–reaction equations. It is shown that, under certain parameters set, these NSFD schemes are capable of preserving the non‐negativity and boundedness of the analytical solutions. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided to verify the validity of our analytical results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1288–1309, 2015     

A weak Galerkin mixed finite element method for the Helmholtz equation with large wave numbers

In this article, a new weak Galerkin mixed finite element method is introduced and analyzed for the Helmholtz equation with large wave numbers. The stability and well‐posedness of the method are established for any wave number k without mesh size constraint. Allowing the use of discontinuous approximating functions makes weak Galerkin mixed method highly flexible in term of little restrictions on approximations and meshes. In the weak Galerkin mixed finite element formulation, approximation functions can be piecewise polynomials with different degrees on different elements and meshes can consist elements with different shapes. Suboptimal order error estimates in both discrete H¹ and L² norms are established for the weak Galerkin mixed finite element solutions. Numerical examples are tested to support the theory.     

A theoretical analysis of a new finite volume scheme for second order hyperbolic equations on general nonconforming multidimensional spatial meshes

We consider the wave equation, on a multidimensional spatial domain. The discretization of the spatial domain is performed using a general class of nonconforming meshes which has been recently studied for stationary anisotropic heterogeneous diffusion problems, see Eymard et al. (IMAJ Numer Anal 30 (2010), 1009–1043). The discretization in time is performed using a uniform mesh. We derive a new implicit finite volume scheme approximating the wave equation and we prove error estimates of the finite volume approximate solution in several norms which allow us to derive error estimates for the approximations of the exact solution and its first derivatives. We prove in particular, when the discrete flux is calculated using a stabilized discrete gradient, the convergence order is \begin{align*} h_\mathcal{D}\end{align*} (resp. k) is the mesh size of the spatial (resp. time) discretization. This estimate is valid under the regularity assumption \begin{align*}u\in C^3(\lbrack 0,T\rbrack;C^2(\overline{\Omega}))\end{align*} 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     

THE VORTEX BLOB METHOD AS A SECOND-GRADE NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID

We show that a certain class of vortex blob approximations for ideal hydrodynamics in two dimensions can be rigorously understood as solutions to the equations of second-grade non-Newtonian fluids with zero viscosity and initial data in the space of Radon measures M (R ²). The solutions of this regularized PDE, also known as the isotropic Lagrangian averaged Euler or Euler-α equations, are geodesics on the volume preserving diffeomorphism group with respect to a new weak right invariant metric. We prove global existence of unique weak solutions (geodesics) for initial vorticity in M (R ²) such as point-vortex data, and show that the associated coadjoint orbit is preserved by the flow. Moreover, solutions of this particular vortex blob method converge to solutions of the Euler equations with bounded initial vorticity, provided that the initial data is approximated weakly in measure, and the total variation of the approximation also converges. In particular, this includes grid-based approximation schemes as are common in practical vortex computations.     

A C0‐weak Galerkin finite element method for fourth‐order elliptic problems

This article proposes and analyzes a C⁰‐weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method for solving the biharmonic equation in two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional. The new WG method uses continuous piecewise‐polynomial approximations of degree for the unknown u and discontinuous piecewise‐polynomial approximations of degree k for the trace of on the interelement boundaries. Optimal error estimates are obtained in H², H¹, and L² norms. Numerical experiments illustrate and confirm the theoretical results. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 32: 1090–1104, 2016     

Hyperbolic conservation laws on manifolds. An error estimate for finite volume schemes

Following Ben-Artzi and LeFloch, we consider nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws posed on a Riemannian manifold, and we establish an L1-error estimate for a class of finite volume schemes allowing for the approximation of entropy solutions to the initial value problem. The error in the L1 norm is of order h1/4 at most, where h represents the maximal diameter of elements in the family of geodesic triangulations. The proof relies on a suitable generalization of Cockburn, Coquel, and LeFloch＇s theory which was originally developed in the Euclidian setting. We extend the arguments to curved manifolds, by taking into account the effects to the geometry and overcoming several new technical difficulties.     

Convergence of Finite Volume Schemes for Hamilton-Jacobi Equations with Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

We study numerical methods for time-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi equations with weak Dirichlet boundary conditions. We first propose a new class of abstract monotone approximation schemes and get a convergence rate of 1/2 . Then, according to the abstract convergence results, by newly constructing monotone finite volume approximations on interior and boundary points, we obtain convergent finite volume schemes for time-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi equations with weak Dirichlet boundary conditions. Finally give some numerical results.     

Estimates of the deviations from the exact solutions for variational inequalities describing the stationary flow of certain viscous incompressible fluids

This paper is concerned with computable and guaranteed upper bounds of the difference between exact solutions of variational inequalities arising in the theory of viscous fluids and arbitrary approximations in the corresponding energy space. Such estimates (also called error majorants of functional type) have been derived for the considered class of nonlinear boundary‐value problems in (Math. Meth. Appl. Sci. 2006; 29:2225–2244) with the help of variational methods based on duality theory from convex analysis. In the present paper, it is shown that error majorants can be derived in a different way by certain transformations of the variational inequalities that define generalized solutions. The error bounds derived by this techniques for the velocity function differ from those obtained by the variational method. These estimates involve only global constants coming from Korn‐ and Friedrichs‐type inequalities, which are not difficult to evaluate in case of Dirichlet boundary conditions. For the case of mixed boundary conditions, we also derive another form of the estimate that contains only one constant coming from the following assertion: the L² norm of a vector‐valued function from H¹(Ω) in the factor space generated by the equivalence with respect to rigid motions is bounded by the L² norm of the symmetric part of the gradient tensor. As for some ‘simple’ domains such as squares or cubes, the constants in this inequality can be found analytically (or numerically), we obtain a unified form of an error majorant for any domain that admits a decomposition into such subdomains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An implicit–explicit residual error estimator for the coupling of dual‐mixed finite elements and boundary elements in elastostatics

We consider the coupling of dual‐mixed finite elements and boundary elements to solve a mixed Dirichlet–Neumann problem of plane elasticity. We derive an a‐posteriori error estimate that is based on the solution of local Dirichlet problems and on a residual term defined on the coupling interface. The general error estimate does not make use of any special finite element or boundary element spaces. Here the residual term is given in a negative order Sobolev norm. In practical applications, where a certain boundary element subspace is used, this norm can be estimated by weighted local L²‐norms. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A primal mixed formulation for exterior transmission problems in ${\bf R}^2$

Summary.   We combine a primal mixed finite element approach with a Dirichlet-to-Neumann mapping (arising from the boundary integral equation method) to study the weak solvability and Galerkin approximations of a class of linear exterior transmission problems in potential theory. Our results are mainly based on the Babuska-Brezzi theory for variational problems with constraints. We establish the uniqueness of solution for the continuous and discrete formulations, and show that finite element subspac es of Lagrange type satisfy the discrete compatibility conditions. In addition, we provide the error analysis, including polygonal approximations of the domain, and prove strong convergence of the Galerkin solutions. Moreover, under additional regularity assumptions on the solution of the continuous formulation, we obtain the asymptotic rate of convergence O(h). Received August 25, 1998 / Revised version received March 8, 2000 / Published online October 16, 2000     

Richardson extrapolation and defect correction of mixed finite element methods for integro-differential equations in porous media

Asymptotic error expansions in the sense of L ^∞-norm for the Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element approximation by the lowest-order rectangular element associated with a class of parabolic integro-differential equations on a rectangular domain are derived, such that the Richardson extrapolation of two different schemes and an interpolation defect correction can be applied to increase the accuracy of the approximations for both the vector field and the scalar field by the aid of an interpolation postprocessing technique, and the key point in deriving them is the establishment of the error estimates for the mixed regularized Green’s functions with memory terms presented in R. Ewing at al., Int. J. Numer. Anal. Model 2 (2005), 301–328. As a result of all these higher order numerical approximations, they can be used to generate a posteriori error estimators for this mixed finite element approximation. This project was supported in part by the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research Project (2007CB8149), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10471103 and 10771158), the Social Science Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (Numerical methods for convertible bonds, 06JA630047), the NSERC, Tianjin Natural Science Foundation (07JCYBJC14300), and Tianjin University of Finance and Economics.