Approximation capability of a bilinear immersed finite element space

This article discusses a bilinear immersed finite element (IFE) space for solving second‐order elliptic boundary value problems with discontinuous coefficients (interface problem). This is a nonconforming finite element space and its partition can be independent of the interface. The error estimates for the interpolation of a Sobolev function indicate that this IFE space has the usual approximation capability expected from bilinear polynomials. Numerical examples of the related finite element method are provided. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2008     

A selective immersed discontinuous Galerkin method for elliptic interface problems

This article proposes a selective immersed discontinuous Galerkin method based on bilinear immersed finite elements (IFE) for solving second‐order elliptic interface problems. This method applies the discontinuous Galerkin formulation wherever selected, such as those elements around an interface or a singular source, but the regular Galerkin formulation everywhere else. A selective bilinear IFE space is constructed and applied to the selective immersed discontinuous Galerkin method based on either the symmetric or nonsymmetric interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin formulation. The new method can solve an interface problem by a rectangular mesh with local mesh refinement independent of the interface even if its geometry is nontrivial. Meanwhile, if desired, its computational cost can be maintained very close to that of the standard Galerkin IFE method. It is shown that the selective bilinear IFE space has the optimal approximation capability expected from piecewise bilinear polynomials. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate features of this method, including the effectiveness of local mesh refinement around the interface and the sensitivity to the penalty parameters. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inf‐sup stability of Petrov‐Galerkin immersed finite element methods for one‐dimensional elliptic interface problems

In this article, we analyze the Petrov‐Galerkin immersed finite element method (PG‐IFEM) when applied to one‐dimensional elliptic interface problems. In the PG‐IFEM (T. Hou, X. Wu and Y. Zhang, Commun. Math. Sci., 2 (2004), 185‐205, and S. Hou and X. Liu, J. Comput. Phys., 202 (2005), 411‐445), the classic immersed finite element (IFE) space was taken as the trial space while the conforming linear finite element space was taken as the test space. We first prove the inf‐sup condition of the PG‐IFEM and then show the optimal error estimate in the energy norm. We also show the optimal estimate of the condition number of the stiffness matrix. The results are extended to two dimensional problems in a special case.     

Approximation capabilities of immersed finite element spaces for elasticity Interface problems

We construct and analyze a group of immersed finite element (IFE) spaces formed by linear, bilinear, and rotated Q₁ polynomials for solving planar elasticity equation involving interface. The shape functions in these IFE spaces are constructed through a group of approximate jump conditions such that the unisolvence of the bilinear and rotated Q₁ IFE shape functions are always guaranteed regardless of the Lamé parameters and the interface location. The boundedness property and a group of identities of the proposed IFE shape functions are established. A multi‐point Taylor expansion is utilized to show the optimal approximation capabilities for the proposed IFE spaces through the Lagrange type interpolation operators.     

Quadratic immersed finite element spaces and their approximation capabilities

This paper discusses a class of quadratic immersed finite element (IFE) spaces developed for solving second order elliptic interface problems. Unlike the linear IFE basis functions, the quadratic IFE local nodal basis functions cannot be uniquely defined by nodal values and interface jump conditions. Three types of one dimensional quadratic IFE basis functions are presented together with their extensions for forming the two dimensional IFE spaces based on rectangular partitions. Approximation capabilities of these IFE spaces are discussed. Finite element solutions based on these IFE for representative interface problems are presented to further illustrate capabilities of these IFE spaces. Dedicated to the 60th birthday of Charles A. Micchelli Mathematics subject classifications (2000) 65N15, 65N30, 65N50, 65Z05. Yanping Lin: Supported by NSERC. Weiwei Sun: This work was supported in part by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (project CityU 1141/01P).     

Immersed finite element methods for parabolic equations with moving interface

This article presents three Crank‐Nicolson‐type immersed finite element (IFE) methods for solving parabolic equations whose diffusion coefficient is discontinuous across a time dependent interface. These methods can use a fixed mesh because IFEs can handle interface jump conditions without requiring the mesh to be aligned with the interface. These methods will be compared analytically in the sense of accuracy and computational cost. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate features of these three IFE methods. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

Analysis of optimal preconditioners for CutFEM

In this article, we consider a class of unfitted finite element methods for scalar elliptic problems. These so-called CutFEM methods use standard finite element spaces on a fixed unfitted triangulation combined with the Nitsche technique and a ghost penalty stabilization. As a model problem we consider the application of such a method to the Poisson interface problem. We introduce and analyze a new class of preconditioners that is based on a subspace decomposition approach. The unfitted finite element space is split into two subspaces, where one subspace is the standard finite element space associated to the background mesh and the second subspace is spanned by all cut basis functions corresponding to nodes on the cut elements. We will show that this splitting is stable, uniformly in the discretization parameter and in the location of the interface in the triangulation. Based on this we introduce an efficient preconditioner that is uniformly spectrally equivalent to the stiffness matrix. Using a similar splitting, it is shown that the same preconditioning approach can also be applied to a fictitious domain CutFEM discretization of the Poisson equation. Results of numerical experiments are included that illustrate optimality of such preconditioners for the Poisson interface problem and the Poisson fictitious domain problem.     

The convergence of the bilinear and linear immersed finite element solutions to interface problems

This article analyzes the error in both the bilinear and linear immersed finite element (IFE) solutions for second‐order elliptic boundary problems with discontinuous coefficients. The discontinuity in the coefficients is supposed to happen across general curves, but the mesh of the IFE methods can be allowed not to align with the curve of discontinuity. It has been shown that the bilinear and linear IFE solutions converge to the exact solution under the usual assumptions about the meshes and regularity.© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 28: 312–330 2012     

A decoupling two‐grid algorithm for the mixed Stokes‐Darcy model with the Beavers‐Joseph interface condition

In this article, a decoupling scheme based on two‐grid finite element for the mixed Stokes‐Darcy problem with the Beavers‐Joseph interface condition is proposed and investigated. With a restriction of a physical parameter α, we derive the numerical stability and error estimates for the scheme. Numerical experiments indicate that such two‐grid based decoupling finite element schemes are feasible and efficient. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 1066–1082, 2014     

Iterative solution of a coupled mixed and standard Galerkin discretization method for elliptic problems

In this paper, we consider approximation of a second‐order elliptic problem defined on a domain in two‐dimensional Euclidean space. Partitioning the domain into two subdomains, we consider a technique proposed by Wieners and Wohlmuth [9] for coupling mixed finite element approximation on one subdomain with a standard finite element approximation on the other. In this paper, we study the iterative solution of the resulting linear system of equations. This system is symmetric and indefinite (of saddle‐point type). The stability estimates for the discretization imply that the algebraic system can be preconditioned by a block diagonal operator involving a preconditioner for H (div) (on the mixed side) and one for the discrete Laplacian (on the finite element side). Alternatively, we provide iterative techniques based on domain decomposition. Utilizing subdomain solvers, the composite problem is reduced to a problem defined only on the interface between the two subdomains. We prove that the interface problem is symmetric, positive definite and well conditioned and hence can be effectively solved by a conjugate gradient iteration. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A partially penalized P1/CR immersed finite element method for planar elasticity interface problems

We propose a partially penalized P₁/CR immersed finite element (IFE) method with midpoint values on edges as degrees of freedom for CR elements to solve planar elasticity interface problems. Optimal approximation errors in L² norm and H¹ semi‐norm are obtained for the P₁/CR IFE spaces. Moreover, by adding some stabilization terms on the edges of interface elements, we derive an optimal error estimate for the P₁/CR IFE method. Our method differs from the method with average values on edges as degrees of freedom for P₁/CR elements in Qin et al.'s study, where no approximation theoretical result was presented. Numerical examples confirm our theoretical results.     

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.     

基于Crouzeix-Raviart元的界面浸入有限元方法及其收敛性分析

本文对具间断系数的二阶椭圆界面问题提出一种浸入有限元方法(theimmersed finite element method), 即在界面单元上采用依赖于界面的线性多项式空间离散, 而在非界面单元上采用Crouzeix-Raviart非协调元离散. 论证表明, 该方法具有对界面问题解的最优L²-模和H¹-模收敛精度.     

A second order isoparametric finite element method for elliptic interface problems

A second order isoparametric finite element method (IPFEM) is proposed for elliptic interface problems. It yields better accuracy than some existing second-order methods, when the coefficients or the flux across the immersed curved interface is discontinuous. Based on an initial Cartesian mesh, a mesh optimization strategy is presented by employing curved boundary elements at the interface, and an incomplete quadratic finite element space is constructed on the optimized mesh. It turns out that the number of curved boundary elements is far less than that of the straight one, and the total degree of freedom is almost the same as the uniform Cartesian mesh. Numerical examples with simple and complicated geometrical interfaces demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.     

A partially penalty immersed interface finite element method for anisotropic elliptic interface problems

In this article, we develop a partially penalty immersed interface finite element (PIFE) method for a kind of anisotropy diffusion models governed by the elliptic interface problems with discontinuous tensor‐coefficients. This method is based on linear immersed interface finite elements (IIFE) and applies the discontinuous Galerkin formulation around the interface. We add two penalty terms to the general IIFE formulation along the sides intersected with the interface. The flux jump condition is weakly enforced on the smooth interface. By proving that the piecewise linear function on an interface element is uniquely determined by its values at the three vertices under some conditions, we construct the finite element spaces. Therefore, a PIFE procedure is proposed, which is based on the symmetric, nonsymmetric or incomplete interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin formulation. Then we prove the consistency and the solvability of the procedure. Theoretical analysis and numerical experiments show that the PIFE solution possesses optimal‐order error estimates in the energy norm and norm.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 1984–2028, 2014     

First‐Order system least squares for generalized‐Newtonian coupled Stokes‐Darcy flow

The coupled problem for a generalized Newtonian Stokes flow in one domain and a generalized Newtonian Darcy flow in a porous medium is studied in this work. Both flows are treated as a first‐order system in a stress‐velocity formulation for the Stokes problem and a volumetric flux‐hydraulic potential formulation for the Darcy problem. The coupling along an interface is done using the well‐known Beavers–Joseph–Saffman interface condition. A least squares finite element method is used for the numerical approximation of the solution. It is shown that under some assumptions on the viscosity the error is bounded from above and below by the least squares functional. An adaptive refinement strategy is examined in several numerical examples where boundary singularities are present. Due to the nonlinearity of the problem a Gauss–Newton method is used to iteratively solve the problem. It is shown that the linear variational problems arising in the Gauss–Newton method are well posed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 1150–1173, 2015     

Normal and tangential continuous elements for least‐squares mixed finite element methods

We consider a finite element discretization of the primal first‐order least‐squares mixed formulation of the second‐order elliptic problem. The unknown variables are displacement and flux, which are approximated by equal‐order elements of the usual continuous element and the normal continuous element, respectively. We show that the error bounds for all variables are optimal. In addition, a field‐based least‐squares finite element method is proposed for the 3D‐magnetostatic problem, where both magnetic field and magnetic flux are taken as two independent variables which are approximated by the tangential continuous and the normal continuous elements, respectively. Coerciveness and optimal error bounds are obtained. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2004.     

A finite element method for interface problems in domains with smooth boundaries and interfaces

This paper is concerned with the analysis of a finite element method for nonhomogeneous second order elliptic interface problems on smooth domains. The method consists in approximating the domains by polygonal domains, transferring the boundary data in a natural way, and then applying a finite element method to the perturbed problem on the approximate polygonal domains. It is shown that the error in the finite element approximation is of optimal order for linear elements on a quasiuniform triangulation. As such the method is robust in the regularity of the data in the original problem.     

On a mixed finite element formulation of a second‐order quasilinear problem in the plane

We analyze a mixed finite element discretization of a second‐order quasilinear problem based on the Raviart‐Thomas space. We prove that the discrete problem is solvable and provide a local uniqueness result for the solution. We also obtain optimal order L²‐error estimates for both the scalar variable and the associated flux. The main feature of our method is that it is free from the boundness conditions required in previous works on the coefficients of the quasilinear operator. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 20: 90–103, 2004.     

Unfitted finite element methods for the heat conduction in composite media with contact resistance

This article is concerned with the heat conduction problem in composite media. In practical applications, the composite materials often do not contact well and there exist gaps between the contacting materials. This leads to the thermal contact resistance effect which results in a discontinuity of the temperature across the interface. In this article, an unfitted finite element method is proposed to solve the problem. Different from the traditional finite element method, the proposed method uses structured meshes that allow the interface to cut through. To avoid integrating on curved domains and interfaces, the interface is approximated by a broken line/plane corresponding to the triangulation. In addition, a ghost‐penalty is added to recover the condition number of the stiffness matrix to with a hidden constant independent of the mesh‐interface geometry. A rigorous analysis is provided. Finally, numerical tests are presented to verify the theoretical findings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 354–380, 2017