Inf-sup stable non-conforming finite elements of arbitrary order on triangles

We introduce a family of scalar non-conforming finite elements of arbitrary order k≥1 with respect to the H¹-norm on triangles. Their vector-valued version generates together with a discontinuous pressure approximation of order k−1 an inf-sup stable finite element pair of order k for the Stokes problem in the energy norm. For k=1 the well-known Crouzeix-Raviart element is recovered.     

Optimally accurate Petrov-Galerkin method of finite elements

We perform analysis for a finite elements method applied to the singular self-adjoint problem. This method uses continuous piecewise polynomial spaces for the trial and the test spaces. We fit the trial polynomial space by piecewise exponentials and we apply so exponentially fitted Galerkin method to singular self-adjoint problem by approximating driving terms by Lagrange piecewise polynomials, linear, quadratic and cubic. We measure the erroe in max norm. We show that method is optimal of the first order in the error estimate. We also give numerical results for the Galerkin approximation.     

Convergence on layer-adapted meshes and anisotropic interpolation error estimates of non-standard higher order finite elements

For a general class of finite element spaces based on local polynomial spaces E with Pp⊂E⊂Qp we construct a vertex-edge-cell and point-value oriented interpolation operators that fulfil anisotropic interpolation error estimates.Using these estimates we prove ε-uniform convergence of order p for the Galerkin FEM and the LPSFEM for a singularly perturbed convection-diffusion problem with characteristic boundary layers.     

Solvability of finite groups with 10 p elements of maximal order

It is proved that finite groups with 10_p elements of the largest order, wherep ≥ 23 a prime, are solvable in this article. Consequently it follows that all finite group with 10p elements of largest order are solvable by some other results.     

Interpolation error estimates in W 1,p for degenerate Q 1 isoparametric elements

Optimal order error estimates in H ¹, for the Q ₁ isoparametric interpolation were obtained in Acosta and Durán (SIAM J Numer Anal37, 18–36, 1999) for a very general class of degenerate convex quadrilateral elements. In this work we show that the same conlusions are valid in W ^1,p for 1≤ p < 3 and we give a counterexample for the case p ≥ 3, showing that the result cannot be generalized for more regular functions. Despite this fact, we show that optimal order error estimates are valid for any p ≥ 1, keeping the interior angles of the element bounded away from 0 and π, independently of the aspect ratio. We also show that the restriction on the maximum angle is sharp for p ≥ 3.     

Conservative arbitrary order finite difference schemes for shallow-water flows

The classical nonlinear shallow-water model (SWM) of an ideal fluid is considered. For the model, a new method for the construction of mass and total energy conserving finite difference schemes is suggested. In fact, it produces an infinite family of finite difference schemes, which are either linear or nonlinear depending on the choice of certain parameters. The developed schemes can be applied in a variety of domains on the plane and on the sphere. The method essentially involves splitting of the model operator by geometric coordinates and by physical processes, which provides substantial benefits in the computational cost of solution. Besides, in case of the whole sphere it allows applying the same algorithms as in a doubly periodic domain on the plane and constructing finite difference schemes of arbitrary approximation order in space. Results of numerical experiments illustrate the skillfulness of the schemes in describing the shallow-water dynamics.     

Follower loads for high order finite elements

Finite element modelling of hydrostatic compaction where the applied pressure acts normal to the deformed surface requires a geometric nonlinear formulation and follower load terms [1, 5, 7]. These concepts are applied to high order [6] (p-FEM) elements with hierarchic shape functions. Applying the blending function method allows to precisely describe curved boundaries on coarse meshes. High order elements exhibit good performance even for high aspect ratios and strong distortion and therefore allow an efficient discretization of thin-walled structures. Since high order finite elements are less prone to locking effects a pure displacement-based formulation can be chosen. After introducing the basic concept of the p-version the application of follower loads to geometrically nonlinear high order elements is presented. For the numerical solution the displacement based formulation is linearized yielding the basis for a Newton-Raphson iteration. The accuracy and performance of the high order finite element scheme is demonstrated by a numerical example. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Laguerre projection method for finite Hankel transform of arbitrary order

We propose a modification of the projection method for the problem of inverting finite Hankel transform of arbitrary order. In expanding the solution of an integral equation of the first kind, eigenfunctions corresponding to eigenvalues close to the multiple are replaced with Laguerre functions. These functions are eigenfunctions of Hankel transform on the half-line. Our test calculations demonstrated the effectiveness of the elaborated method.     

High order finite difference methods on non-uniform meshes for space fractional operators

In the past decades, the finite difference methods for space fractional operators develop rapidly; to the best of our knowledge, all the existing finite difference schemes, including the first and high order ones, just work on uniform meshes. The nonlocal property of space fractional operator makes it difficult to design the finite difference scheme on non-uniform meshes. This paper provides a basic strategy to derive the first and high order discretization schemes on non-uniform meshes for fractional operators. And the obtained first and second schemes on non-uniform meshes are used to solve space fractional diffusion equations. The error estimates and stability analysis are detailedly performed; and extensive numerical experiments confirm the theoretical analysis or verify the convergence orders.     

A multi-mesh finite element method for Lagrange elements of arbitrary degree

We consider within a finite element approach the usage of different adaptively refined meshes for different variables in systems of nonlinear, time-depended PDEs. To resolve different solution behaviors of these variables, the meshes can be independently adapted. The resulting linear systems are usually much smaller, when compared to the usage of a single mesh, and the overall computational runtime can be more than halved in such cases. Our multi-mesh method works for Lagrange finite elements of arbitrary degree and is independent of the spatial dimension. The approach is well defined, and can be implemented in existing adaptive finite element codes with minimal effort. We show computational examples in 2D and 3D ranging from dendritic growth to solid–solid phase-transitions. A further application comes from fluid dynamics where we demonstrate the applicability of the approach for solving the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with Lagrange finite elements of the same order for velocity and pressure. The approach thus provides an easy way to implement alternative to stabilized finite element schemes, if Lagrange finite elements of the same order are required.     

Nonconforming tetrahedral finite elements for fourth order elliptic equations

This paper is devoted to the construction of nonconforming finite elements for the discretization of fourth order elliptic partial differential operators in three spatial dimensions. The newly constructed elements include two nonconforming tetrahedral finite elements and one quasi-conforming tetrahedral element. These elements are proved to be convergent for a model biharmonic equation in three dimensions. In particular, the quasi-conforming tetrahedron element is a modified Zienkiewicz element, while the nonmodified Zienkiewicz element (a tetrahedral element of Hermite type) is proved to be divergent on a special grid.

     

High accuracy nonconforming finite elements for fourth order problems

The approach of nonconforming finite element method admits users to solve the partial differential equations with lower complexity,but the accuracy is usually low.In this paper,we present a family of highaccuracy nonconforming finite element methods for fourth order problems in arbitrary dimensions.The finite element methods are given in a unified way with respect to the dimension.This is an effort to reveal the balance between the accuracy and the complexity of finite element methods.     

New robust nonconforming finite elements of higher order

We show that existing quadrilateral nonconforming finite elements of higher order exhibit a reduction in the order of approximation if the sequence of meshes is still shape-regular but consists no longer of asymptotically affine equivalent mesh cells. We study second order nonconforming finite elements as members of a new family of higher order approaches which prevent this order reduction. We present a new approach based on the enrichment of the original polynomial space on the reference element by means of nonconforming cell bubble functions which can be removed at the end by static condensation. Optimal estimates of the approximation and consistency error are shown in the case of a Poisson problem which imply an optimal order of the discretization error. Moreover, we discuss the known nonparametric approach to prevent the order reduction in the case of higher order elements, where the basis functions are defined as polynomials on the original mesh cell. Regarding the efficient treatment of the resulting linear discrete systems, we analyze numerically the convergence of the corresponding geometrical multigrid solvers which are based on the canonical full order grid transfer operators. Based on several benchmark configurations, for scalar Poisson problems as well as for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations (representing the desired application field of these nonconforming finite elements), we demonstrate the high numerical accuracy, flexibility and efficiency of the discussed new approaches which have been successfully implemented in the FeatFlow software (www.featflow.de). The presented results show that the proposed FEM-multigrid combinations (together with discontinuous pressure approximations) appear to be very advantageous candidates for efficient simulation tools, particularly for incompressible flow problems.     

Acoustic simulations with higher order finite and infinite elements

The efficiency of finite element based simulations of Helmholtz problems is primarily affected by two facts. First, the numerical solution suffers from the so-called pollution effect, which leads to very high element resolutions at higher frequencies. Furthermore, the spectral properties of the resulting system matrices, and hence the convergence of iterative solvers, deteriorate with increasing wave numbers. In this contribution the influence of different types of polynomial basis functions on the efficiency and stability of interior as well as exterior acoustic simulations is analyzed. The current investigations show that a proper choice for the polynomial shape approximation may significantly increase the performance of Krylov subspace methods. In particular, the efficiency of higher order finite and infinite elements based on Bernstein polynomial shape approximation and the corresponding iterative solution strategies is assessed for practically relevant numerical examples including the sound radiation from rolling vehicle tires. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Two families of mixed finite elements for second order elliptic problems

Summary Two families of mixed finite elements, one based on triangles and the other on rectangles, are introduced as alternatives to the usual Raviart-Thomas-Nedelec spaces. Error estimates inL ² () andH ^–5 () are derived for these elements. A hybrid version of the mixed method is also considered, and some superconvergence phenomena are discussed.