A posteriori estimation of the linearization error for strongly monotone nonlinear operators

We investigate the a posteriori estimation of the modeling (or linearization) error which arises when a nonlinear problem is replaced by a linear model. Using the context of strongly monotone operators, we construct a computable upper estimator for this error, and also provide an estimator that gives a lower bound. Several numerical results illustrating our theory are provided.     

A posteriori error estimations of residual type for Signorini's problem

This paper presents an a posteriori error analysis for the linear finite element approximation of the Signorini problem in two space dimensions. A posteriori estimations of residual type are defined and upper and lower bounds of the discretization error are obtained. We perform several numerical experiments in order to compare the convergence of the terms in the error estimator with the discretization error.     

Isospectral flow method for nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem with prescribed structure

The nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem is that given a family of complex numbers λ={λ₁,…,λ_n}, find a nonnegative matrix of order n with spectrum λ. This problem is difficult and remains unsolved partially. In this paper, we focus on its generalization that the reconstructed nonnegative matrices should have some prescribed entries. It is easy to see that this new problem will come back to the common nonnegative inverse eigenvalue problem if there is no constraint of the locations of entries. A numerical isospectral flow method which is developed by hybridizing the optimization theory and steepest descent method is used to study the reconstruction. Moreover, an error estimate of the numerical iteration for ordinary differential equations on the matrix manifold is presented. After that, a numerical method for the nonnegative symmetric inverse eigenvalue problem with prescribed entries and its error estimate are considered. Finally, the approaches are verified by the numerical test results.     

A posteriori error estimators for nonconforming finite element methods of the linear elasticity problem

In this work we derive and analyze a posteriori error estimators for low-order nonconforming finite element methods of the linear elasticity problem on both triangular and quadrilateral meshes, with hanging nodes allowed for local mesh refinement. First, it is shown that equilibrated Neumann data on interelement boundaries are simply given by the local weak residuals of the numerical solution. The first error estimator is then obtained by applying the equilibrated residual method with this set of Neumann data. From this implicit estimator we also derive two explicit error estimators, one of which is similar to the one proposed by Dörfler and Ainsworth (2005) [24] for the Stokes problem. It is established that all these error estimators are reliable and efficient in a robust way with respect to the Lamé constants. The main advantage of our error estimators is that they yield guaranteed, i.e., constant-free upper bounds for the energy-like error (up to higher order terms due to data oscillation) when a good estimate for the inf-sup constant is available, which is confirmed by some numerical results.     

Error estimators for advection–reaction–diffusion equations based on the solution of local problems

This paper deals with a posteriori error estimates for advection–reaction–diffusion equations. In particular, error estimators based on the solution of local problems are derived for a stabilized finite element method. These estimators are proved to be equivalent to the error, with equivalence constants eventually depending on the physical parameters. Numerical experiments illustrating the performance of this approach are reported.     

Convergence and superconvergence analysis of an anisotropic nonconforming finite element methods for singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion problems

The numerical approximation by a lower order anisotropic nonconforming finite element on appropriately graded meshes are considered for solving singular perturbation problems. The quasi-optimal order error estimates are proved in the ε-weighted H¹-norm valid uniformly, up to a logarithmic factor, in the singular perturbation parameter. By using the interpolation postprocessing technique, the global superconvergent error estimates in ε-weighted H¹-norm are obtained. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate validity of our theoretical analysis.     

Efficient computable error bounds for discontinuous Galerkin approximations of elliptic problems

We present guaranteed and computable both sided error bounds for the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) approximations of elliptic problems. These estimates are derived in the full DG-norm on purely functional grounds by the analysis of the respective differential problem, and thus, are applicable to any qualified DG approximation. Based on the triangle inequality, the underlying approach has the following steps for a given DG approximation: (1) computing a conforming approximation in the energy space using the Oswald interpolation operator, and (2) application of the existing functional a posteriori error estimates to the conforming approximation. Various numerical examples with varying difficulty in computing the error bounds, from simple problems of polynomial-type analytic solution to problems with analytic solution having sharp peaks, or problems with jumps in the coefficients of the partial differential equation operator, are presented which confirm the efficiency and the robustness of the estimates.     

Asymptotically exact functional error estimators based on superconvergent gradient recovery

The use of dual/adjoint problems for approximating functionals of solutions of PDEs with great accuracy or to merely drive a goal-oriented adaptive refinement scheme has become well-accepted, and it continues to be an active area of research. The traditional approach involves dual residual weighting (DRW). In this work we present two new functional error estimators and give conditions under which we can expect them to be asymptotically exact. The first is of DRW type and is derived for meshes in which most triangles satisfy an -approximate parallelogram property. The second functional estimator involves dual error estimate weighting (DEW) using any superconvergent gradient recovery technique for the primal and dual solutions. Several experiments are done which demonstrate the asymptotic exactness of a DEW estimator which uses a gradient recovery scheme proposed by Bank and Xu, and the effectiveness of refinement done with respect to the corresponding local error indicators. Resubmitted to Numerische Mathematik, June 30, 2005, with changes suggested by referees.     

A posteriori error estimates for elliptic problems with Dirac delta source terms

The aim of this paper is to introduce residual type a posteriori error estimators for a Poisson problem with a Dirac delta source term, in L ^p norm and W^1,p seminorm. The estimators are proved to yield global upper and local lower bounds for the corresponding norms of the error. They are used to guide adaptive procedures, which are experimentally shown to lead to optimal orders of convergence.     

A posteriori error estimation of residual type for anisotropic diffusion-convection-reaction problems

This paper presents a robust a posteriori residual error estimator for diffusion-convection-reaction problems with anisotropic diffusion, approximated by a SUPG finite element method on isotropic or anisotropic meshes in R^d, d=2 or 3. The equivalence between the energy norm of the error and the residual error estimator is proved. Numerical tests confirm the theoretical results.     

A comparison of a posteriori error estimates for biharmonic problems solved by the FEM

The classical a posteriori error estimates are mostly oriented to the use in the finite element h$h$-methods while the contemporary higher-order hp$hp$-methods usually require new approaches in a posteriori error estimation. These methods hold a very important position among adaptive numerical procedures for solving ordinary as well as partial differential equations arising from various technical applications.     

A mixed finite element method for solving the nonstationary stokes equation

Summary This paper deals with a mixed finite element method for approximating a fourth order initial value problem arising from the nonstationary Stokes problem. For piecewise linear shape functions error estimates are given with convergence rates similar to the elliptic case. Some numerical computations will illustrate the theoretical results.     

A posteriori error estimators for convection-diffusion equations

Summary. We derive a posteriori error estimators for convection-diffusion equations with dominant convection. The estimators yield global upper and local lower bounds on the error measured in the energy norm such that the ratio of the upper and lower bounds only depends on the local mesh-Peclet number. The estimators are either based on the evaluation of local residuals or on the solution of discrete local Dirichlet or Neumann problems. Received February 10, 1997 / Revised version received November 4, 1997     

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.     

An adaptive stabilized finite element method for the generalized Stokes problem

In this work we present an adaptive strategy (based on an a posteriori error estimator) for a stabilized finite element method for the Stokes problem, with and without a reaction term. The hierarchical type estimator is based on the solution of local problems posed on appropriate finite dimensional spaces of bubble-like functions. An equivalence result between the norm of the finite element error and the estimator is given, where the dependence of the constants on the physics of the problem is explicited. Several numerical results confirming both the theoretical results and the good performance of the estimator are given.     

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.     

Robust a posteriori error estimators for a singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion equation

We derive robust a posteriori error estimators for a singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion equation. Here, robust means that the estimators yield global upper and local lower bounds on the error measured in the energy norm such that the ratio of the upper and lower bounds is bounded from below and from above by constants which do neither depend on any meshsize nor on the perturbation parameter. The estimators are based either on the evaluation of local residuals or on the solution of discrete local Dirichlet or Neumann problems. Received June 5, 1996     

Error estimates for a mixed finite volume method for the p-Laplacian problem

In this work we propose and analyze a mixed finite volume method for the p-Laplacian problem which is based on the lowest order Raviart–Thomas element for the vector variable and the P1 nonconforming element for the scalar variable. It is shown that this method can be reduced to a P1 nonconforming finite element method for the scalar variable only. One can then recover the vector approximation from the computed scalar approximation in a virtually cost-free manner. Optimal a priori error estimates are proved for both approximations by the quasi-norm techniques. We also derive an implicit error estimator of Bank–Weiser type which is based on the local Neumann problems.This work was supported by the Post-doctoral Fellowship Program of Korea Science & Engineering Foundation (KOSEF).     

A posteriori error estimation with finite element methods of lines for one-dimensional parabolic systems

Summary Consider the solution of one-dimensional linear initial-boundary value problems by a finite element method of lines using a piecewiseP ^th -degree polynomial basis. A posteriori estimates of the discretization error are obtained as the solutions of either local parabolic or local elliptic finite element problems using piecewise polynomial corrections of degreep+1 that vanish at element ends. Error estimates computed in this manner are shown to converge in energy under mesh refinement to the exact finite element discretization error. Computational results indicate that the error estimates are robust over a wide range of mesh spacings and polynomial degrees and are, furthermore, applicable in situations that are not supported by the analysis.This research was partially supported by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, USAF, under Grant Number AFOSR 90-0194; by the U.S. Army Research Office under Contract Number DAAL03-91-G-0215; and by the National Science Foundation under Institutional Infrastructure Grant Number CDA-8805910     

A-priori error estimates of Galerkin backward differentiation methods in time-inhomogeneous parabolic problems

Summary Backward differentiation methods up to orderk=5 are applied to solve linear ordinary and partial (parabolic) differential equations where in the second case the space variables are discretized by Galerkin procedures. Using a mean square norm over all considered time levels a-priori error estimates are derived. The emphasis of the results lies on the fact that the obtained error bounds do not depend on a Lipschitz constant and the dimension of the basic system of ordinary differential equations even though this system is allowed to have time-varying coefficients. It is therefore possible to use the bounds to estimate the error of systems with arbitrary varying dimension as they arise in the finite element regression of parabolic problems.