Total flux estimates for a finite element approximation of the Dirichlet problem using the boundary penalty method

Summary This paper considers a fully practical piecewise linear finite element approximation of the Dirichlet problem for a second order self-adjoint elliptic equation,Au=f, in a smooth region< ⁿ (n=2 or 3) by the boundary penalty method. Using an unfitted mesh; that is ^h , an approximation of with dist (, ^h )Ch ² is not in general a union of elements; and assuminguH ⁴ () we show that one can recover the total flux across a segment of the boundary of with an error ofO(h ²⁾. We use these results to study a fully practical piecewise linear finite element approximation of an elliptic equation by the boundary penalty method when the prescribed data on part of the boundary is the total flux.Supported by a SERC research studentship     

A finite element method for the nonlinear Tricomi problem

Summary We consider a finite element procedure for numerical solution of the nonlinear problem:L[u]=yu _xx +u _yy +r(x,y)u=f(x, y, u) in a simply connected regionG in thex-y plane. The boundary ofG consists of ₀, ₁, and ₂ and we impose the boundary condition . ₀ is assumed to be a piecewises smooth curve lying in the half-planey>0 with endpointsA(–1, 0) andB(0, 0). ₁ and ₂ are characteristics of the operatorL issued fromA andB which intersect at the pointC(–1/2,y _c). An error analysis of the method is also given.     

The treatment of nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions by thep-version of the finite element method

Summary The paper addresses the problem of the implementation of nonhomogeneous essential Dirichlet type boundary conditions in thep-version of the finite element method.Partially supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant N-00014-85-K-0169Research partially supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under Grant Number AFOSR 85-0322     

On finite element methods for the Neumann problem

Summary The Neumann problem for a second order elliptic equation with self-adjoint operator is considered, the unique solution of which is determined from projection onto unity. Two variational formulations of this problem are studied, which have a unique solution in the whole space. Discretization is done via the finite element method based on the Ritz process, and it is proved that the discrete solutions converge to one of the solutions of the continuous problem. Comparison of the two methods is done.     

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].     

Convergence of mixed finite element approximations for the shallow arch problem

Summary The stability and convergence of mixed finite element methods are investigated, for an equilibrium problem for thin shallow elastic arches. The problem in its standard form contains two terms, corresponding to the contributions from the shear and axial strains, with a small parameter. Lagrange multipliers are introduced, to formulate the problem in an alternative mixed form. Questions of existence and uniqueness of solutions to the standard and mixed problems are addressed. It is shown that finite element approximations of the mixed problem are stable and convergent. Reduced integration formulations are equivalent to a mixed formulation which in general is distinct from the formulation shown to be stable and convergent, except when the order of polynomial interpolationt of the arch shape satisfies 1tmin (2,r) wherer is the order of polynomial approximation of the unknown variables.     

Discretization of the Timoshenko Beam problem by thep and theh-p versions of the finite element method

Summary In this paper the discretization of the Timoshenko Beam problem by thep and theh-p versions of the finite element method is considered. Optimal error estimates are established. The locking phenomenon disappears as the thickness of the beam decreases.     

On the construction of optimal mixed finite element methods for the linear elasticity problem

Summary The mixed finite element method for the linear elasticity problem is considered. We propose a systematic way of designing methods with optimal convergence rates for both the stress tensor and the displacement. The ideas are applied in some examples.     

On the finite volume element method

Summary The finite volume element method (FVE) is a discretization technique for partial differential equations. It uses a volume integral formulation of the problem with a finite partitioning set of volumes to discretize the equations, then restricts the admissible functions to a finite element space to discretize the solution. this paper develops discretization error estimates for general selfadjoint elliptic boundary value problems with FVE based on triangulations with linear finite element spaces and a general type of control volume. We establishO(h) estimates of the error in a discreteH ¹ semi-norm. Under an additional assumption of local uniformity of the triangulation the estimate is improved toO(h ²). Results on the effects of numerical integration are also included.This research was sponsored in part by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant number AFOSR-86-0126 and the National Science Foundation under grant number DMS-8704169. This work was performed while the author was at the University of Colorado at Denver     

Compactness method in the finite element theory of nonlinear elliptic problems

Summary Finite element approximation of a nonlinear elliptic pseudomonotone second-order boundary value problem in a bounded nonpolygonal domain with mixed Dirichlet-Neumann boundary conditions is studied. In the discretization we approximate the domain by a polygonal one, use linear conforming triangular elements and evaluate integrals by numerical quadratures. We prove the solvability of the discrete problem and on the basis of compactness properties of the corresponding operator (which is not monotone in general) we prove the convergence of approximate solutions to an exact weak solutionuH ¹ ). No additional assumption on the regularity of the exact solution is needed.     

An asymptotic finite element method for improvement of solutions of boundary layer problems

Summary A scheme that uses singular perturbation theory to improve the performance of existing finite element methods is presented. The proposed scheme improves the error bounds of the standard Galerkin finite element scheme by a factor of O(ⁿ⁺¹) (where is the small parameter andn is the order of the asymptotic approximation). Numerical results for linear second order O.D.E.'s are given and are compared with several other schemes.     

Theh,p andh-p versions of the finite element method in 1 dimension

Summary This paper is the first one in the series of three which are addressing in detail the properties of the three basic versions of the finite element method in the one dimensional setting The main emphasis is placed on the analysis when the (exact) solution has singularity of x-type. The first part analyzes thep-version, the second theh-version and generalh-p version and the final third part addresses the problems of the adaptiveh-p version.Supported by the NSF Grant DMS-8315216Partially supported by ONR Contract N00014-85-K-0169     

A practical finite element approximation of a semi-definite Neumann problem on a curved domain

Summary This paper considers the finite element approximation of the semi-definite Neumann problem: –·(u)=f in a curved domain ⁿ (n=2 or 3), on and , a given constant, for dataf andg satisfying the compatibility condition . Due to perturbation of domain errors ( ^h ) the standard Galerkin approximation to the above problem may not have a solution. A remedy is to perturb the right hand side so that a discrete form of the compatibility condition holds. Using this approach we show that for a finite element space defined overD ^h , a union of elements, with approximation powerh ^k in theL ² norm and with dist (, ^h )Ch ^k , one obtains optimal rates of convergence in theH ¹ andL ² norms whether ^h is fitted ( ^h D ^h ) or unfitted ( ^h D ^h ) provided the numerical integration scheme has sufficient accuracy.Partially supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant #DMS-8501397, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Office of Naval Research     

A primal hybrid finite element method for quasilinear second order elliptic problems

Summary The Robin problem for a nonlinear, second-order, elliptic equation is approximated by a primal hybrid method. Optimal order error estimates are established in various norms, with minimal regularity requirements in almost all cases.     

A conjugate gradient method and a multigrid algorithm for Morley s finite element approximation of the biharmonic equation

Summary The numerical solution of the linear equations arising from Morley's nonconforming displacement method is studied. A suitable preconditioning for the conjugate gradient method is described. Furthermore, the nonconformity of the discretization necessitates some non-standard ingredients of multigrid algorithms.     

A family of mixed finite elements for the elasticity problem

Summary A new mixed finite element formulation for the equations of linear elasticity is considered. In the formulation the variables approximated are the displacement, the unsymmetric stress tensor and the rotation. The rotation act as a Lagrange multiplier introduced in order to enforce the symmetry of the stress tensor. Based on this formulation a new family of both two-and three-dimensional mixed methods is defined. Optimal error estimates, which are valid uniformly with respect to the Poisson ratio, are derived. Finally, a new postprocessing scheme for improving the displacement is introduced and analyzed.     

Mixed finite element approximation of the vector potential

Summary We consider a mixed finite element approximation of the three dimensional vector potential, which plays an important rôle in the simulation of perfect fluids and in the calculation of rotational corrections to transonic potential flows. The central point of our approach is a saddlepoint formulation of the essential boundary conditions. In particular, this avoids the wellknown Babuka paradox when approximating smooth domains by polyhedrons. Using piecewise linear/piecewise constant elements for the vector potential/the boundary terms, we obtain optimal error estimates under minimal regularity assumptions for the solution of the continuous problem.     

Analysis of some low-order finite element schemes for Mindlin-Reissner and Kirchhoff plates

Summary We set up a framework for analyzing mixed finite element methods for the plate problem using a mesh dependent energy norm which applies both to the Kirchhoff and to the Mindlin-Reissner formulation of the problem. The analysis techniques are applied to some low order finite element schemes where three degrees of freedom are associated to each vertex of a triangulation of the domain. The schemes proceed from the Mindlin-Reissner formulation with modified shear energy.Dedicated to Professor Ivo Babuka on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Error estimates for semidiscrete Galerkin type approximations to semilinear evolution equations with nonsmooth initial data

Summary Error estimates for the semidiserete Galerkin method for abstract semilinear evolution equations with non-smooth initial data are given. In concrete cases almost optimal order of convergence for linear finite elements results.To Professor Dr. J.A. Nitsche on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday     

A family of higher order mixed finite element methods for plane elasticity

Summary The Dirichler problem for the equations of plane elasticity is approximated by a mixed finite element method using a new family of composite finite elements having properties analogous to those possessed by the Raviart-Thomas mixed finite elements for a scalar, second-order elliptic equation. Estimates of optimal order and minimal regularity are derived for the errors in the displacement vector and the stress tensor inL ²(), and optimal order negative norm estimates are obtained inH ^s () for a range ofs depending on the index of the finite element space. An optimal order estimate inL () for the displacement error is given. Also, a quasioptimal estimate is derived in an appropriate space. All estimates are valid uniformly with respect to the compressibility and apply in the incompressible case. The formulation of the elements is presented in detail.This work was performed while Professor Arnold was a NATO Postdoctoral Fellow