Analysis of finite element approximations of a phase field model for two-phase fluids

This paper studies a phase field model for the mixture of two immiscible and incompressible fluids. The model is described by a nonlinear parabolic system consisting of the nonstationary Stokes equations coupled with the Allen-Cahn equation through an extra phase induced stress term in the Stokes equations and a fluid induced transport term in the Allen-Cahn equation. Both semi-discrete and fully discrete finite element methods are developed for approximating the parabolic system. It is shown that the proposed numerical methods satisfy a discrete energy law which mimics the basic energy law for the phase field model. Error estimates are derived for the semi-discrete method, and the convergence to the phase field model and to its sharp interface limiting model are established for the fully discrete finite element method by making use of the discrete energy law. Numerical experiments are also presented to validate the theory and to show the effectiveness of the combined phase field and finite element approach.

     

A coupling of nonconforming and mixed finite element methods for Biot's consolidation model

In this article, we develop a nonconforming mixed finite element method to solve Biot's consolidation model. In particular, this work has been motivated to overcome nonphysical oscillations in the pressure variable, which is known as locking in poroelasticity. The method is based on a coupling of a nonconforming finite element method for the displacement of the solid phase with a standard mixed finite element method for the pressure and velocity of the fluid phase. The discrete Korn's inequality has been achieved by adding a jump term to the discrete variational formulation. We prove a rigorous proof of a‐priori error estimates for both semidiscrete and fully‐discrete schemes. Optimal error estimates have been derived. In particular, optimality in the pressure, measured in different norms, has been proved for both cases when the constrained specific storage coefficient c₀ is strictly positive and when c₀ is nonnegative. Numerical results illustrate the accuracy of the method and also show the effectiveness of the method to overcome the nonphysical pressure oscillations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

An algebraic multigrid method for finite element discretizations with edge elements

This paper presents an algebraic multigrid method for the efficient solution of the linear system arising from a finite element discretization of variational problems in H₀(curl,Ω). The finite element spaces are generated by Nédélec's edge elements. A coarsening technique is presented, which allows the construction of suitable coarse finite element spaces, corresponding transfer operators and appropriate smoothers. The prolongation operator is designed such that coarse grid kernel functions of the curl‐operator are mapped to fine grid kernel functions. Furthermore, coarse grid kernel functions are ‘discrete’ gradients. The smoothers proposed by Hiptmair and Arnold, Falk and Winther are directly used in the algebraic framework. Numerical studies are presented for 3D problems to show the high efficiency of the proposed technique. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crank‐Nicolson‐Galerkin finite element scheme for nonlocal coupled parabolic problem using the Newton's method

In this article, a finite element scheme based on the Newton's method is proposed to approximate the solution of a nonlocal coupled system of parabolic problem. The Crank‐Nicolson method is used for time discretization. Well‐posedness of the problem is discussed at continuous and discrete levels. We derive a priori error estimates for both semidiscrete and fully discrete formulations. Results based on usual finite element method are provided to confirm the theoretical estimates.     

Multiphysics mixed finite element method with Nitsche's technique for Stokes-poroelasticity problem

In this article, we propose a multiphysics mixed finite element method with Nitsche's technique for Stokes-poroelasticity problem. Firstly, we reformulate the poroelasticity part of the original problem by introducing two pseudo-pressures to into a “fluid–fluid” coupled problem so that we can use the classical stable finite element pairs to deal with this problem conveniently. Then, we prove the existence and uniqueness of weak solution of the reformulated problem. And we use Nitsche's technique to approximate the coupling condition at the interface to propose a loosely-coupled time-stepping method to solve three subproblems at each time step–a Stokes problem, a generalized Stokes problem and a mixed diffusion problem. And the proposed method does not require any restriction on the choice of the discrete approximation spaces on each side of the interface provided that appropriate quadrature methods are adopted. Also, we give the stability analysis and error estimates of the loosely-coupled time-stepping method. Finally, we give the numerical tests to show that the proposed numerical method has a good stability and no “locking” phenomenon.     

Space-time finite element methods stabilized using bubble function spaces

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a stabilized space-time finite element method for solving linear parabolic evolution problems is analyzed. The proposed method is developed on a base of a space-time variational setting, that helps on the simultaneous and unified discretization in space and in time by finite element techniques. Stabilization terms are constructed by means of classical bubble spaces. Stability of the discrete problem with respect to an associated mesh dependent norm is proved, and a priori discretization error estimates are presented. Numerical examples confirm the theoretical estimates.     

An approximation of incompressible miscible displacement in porous media by mixed finite elements and symmetric finite volume element method of characteristics

A nonlinear system of two coupled partial differential equations models miscible displacement of one incompressible fluid by another in a porous medium. A sequential implicit time‐stepping procedure is defined, in which the pressure and Darcy velocity of the mixture are approximated by a mixed finite element method and the concentration is approximated by a combination of a modified symmetric finite volume element method and the method of characteristics. Optimal order convergence in H¹ and in L² are proved for full discrete schemes. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

A new stabilized finite element method for optimal control for a Ladyzhenskaya model for unsteady flows

This article considers the time‐dependent optimal control problem of tracking the velocity for the viscous incompressible flows which is governed by a Ladyzhenskaya equations with distributed control. The existence of the optimal solution is shown and the first‐order optimality condition is established. The semidiscrete‐in‐time approximation of the optimal control problem is also given. The spatial discretization of the optimal control problem is accomplished by using a new stabilized finite element method which does not need a stabilization parameter or calculation of high order derivatives. Finally a gradient algorithm for the fully discrete optimal control problem is effectively proposed and implemented with some numerical examples. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 28: 263–287, 2012     

Solution of two-phase flow problems in porous media via an alternating-direction finite element method

The application of an alternating-direction finite element solution procedure to two-phase immiscible displacement problems in porous media is illustrated. This solution scheme provides for rapid solution of the discrete problem, due to the narrow banded matrices involved, with an accuracy which is comparable to that of standard finite element approximations. The governing partial differential equations for immiscible two-phase porous media flow are given and their discretization, via a Laplace-modified time stepping scheme, is presented. Iterative improvement of the time stepping scheme is also considered and numerical examples are provided which demonstrate the saving in computational time which can be achieved.     

A discrete maximum principle for the weak Galerkin finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions

This article establishes a discrete maximum principle (DMP) for the approximate solution of convection–diffusion–reaction problems obtained from the weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions. The DMP analysis is based on a simplified formulation of the WG involving only the approximating functions defined on the boundary of each element. The simplified weak Galerkin (SWG) method has a reduced computational complexity over the usual WG, and indeed provides a discretization scheme different from the WG when the reaction terms are present. An application of the SWG on uniform rectangular partitions yields some 5- and 7-point finite difference schemes for the second order elliptic equation. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the DMP and the accuracy of the scheme, particularly the finite difference scheme.     

The penalty method for grid matching in mixed finite element methods

In this paper we prove the possibility of the use of the penalty method for grid matching in mixed finite element methods. We consider the Hermann-Johnson scheme for biharmonic equation. The main idea is to construct a perturbed problem with two parameters which play roles of penalties. The perturbed problem is built by the replacement of essential conditions on the interface in the mixed variational statement with natural conditions that contain parameters. The perturbed problem is discretized by the finite element method. We estimate the norm of the difference between a solution of the discrete perturbed problem and a solution of the initial problem; the obtained estimates depend on the step and the penalties. We give recommendations for the choice of penalties depending on the step.     

Optimal error estimate of the penalty finite element method for the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations

A fully discrete penalty finite element method is presented for the two-dimensional time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. The time discretization of the penalty Navier-Stokes equations is based on the backward Euler scheme; the spatial discretization of the time discretized penalty Navier-Stokes equations is based on a finite element space pair which satisfies some approximate assumption. An optimal error estimate of the numerical velocity and pressure is provided for the fully discrete penalty finite element method when the parameters and are sufficiently small.

     

Some remarks on the flux-free finite element method for immiscible two-fluid flows

We give some theoretical considerations on the the flux-free finite element method for the generalized Stokes interface problem arising from the immiscible two-fluid flow problems. In the flux-free finite element method, the flux constraint is posed as another Lagrange multiplier to keep the zero-flux on the interface. As a result, the mass of each fluid is expected to be preserved at every time step. We first study the effect of discontinuous coefficients (viscosity and density) on the error of the standard finite element approximations very carefully. Then, the analysis is extended to the flux-free finite element method.     

A finite element convergence analysis for 3D Stokes equations in case of variational crimes

We investigate a finite element discretization of the Stokes equations with nonstandard boundary conditions, defined in a bounded three-dimensional domain with a curved, piecewise smooth boundary. For tetrahedral triangulations of this domain we prove, under general assumptions on the discrete problem and without any additional regularity assumptions on the weak solution, that the discrete solutions converge to the weak solution. Examples of appropriate finite element spaces are given.     

The finite element method for fractional diffusion with spectral fractional Laplacian

This paper focuses on the finite element method for Caputo-type parabolic equation with spectral fractional Laplacian, where the time derivative is in the sense of Caputo with order in (0,1) and the spatial derivative is the spectral fractional Laplacian. The time discretization is based on the Hadamard finite-part integral (or the finite-part integral in the sense of Hadamard), where the piecewise linear interpolation polynomials are used. The spatial fractional Laplacian is lifted to the local spacial derivative by using the Caffarelli–Silvestre extension, where the finite element method is used. Full-discretization scheme is constructed. The convergence and error estimates are obtained. Finally, numerical experiments are presented which support the theoretical results.     

Convergence of finite element method for linear second‐order wave equations with discontinuous coefficients

A finite element method is proposed and analyzed for hyperbolic problems with discontinuous coefficients. The main emphasize is given on the convergence of such method. Due to low global regularity of the solutions, the error analysis of the standard finite element method is difficult to adopt for such problems. For a practical finite element discretization, optimal error estimates in L^∞(L²) and L^∞(H¹) norms are established for continuous time discretization. Further, a fully discrete scheme based on a symmetric difference approximation is considered, and optimal order convergence in L^∞(H¹) norm is established. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

Error estimates for a finite volume element method for parabolic equations in convex polygonal domains

We analyze the spatially semidiscrete piecewise linear finite volume element method for parabolic equations in a convex polygonal domain in the plane. Our approach is based on the properties of the standard finite element Ritz projection and also of the elliptic projection defined by the bilinear form associated with the variational formulation of the finite volume element method. Because the domain is polygonal, special attention has to be paid to the limited regularity of the exact solution. We give sufficient conditions in terms of data that yield optimal order error estimates in L₂ and H 1 . The convergence rate in the L_∞ norm is suboptimal, the same as in the corresponding finite element method, and almost optimal away from the corners. We also briefly consider the lumped mass modification and the backward Euler fully discrete method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2004     

Convergence and stability of finite element nonlinear Galerkin method for the Navier-Stokes equations

In this article, we present a new fully discrete finite element nonlinear Galerkin method, which are well suited to the long time integration of the Navier-Stokes equations. Spatial discretization is based on two-grid finite element technique; time discretization is based on Euler explicit scheme with variable time step size. Moreover, we analyse the boundedness, convergence and stability condition of the finite element nonlinear Galerkin method. Our discussion shows that the time step constraints of the method depend only on the coarse grid parameter and the time step constraints of the finite element Galerkin method depend on the fine grid parameter under the same convergence accuracy. Received February 2, 1994 / Revised version received December 6, 1996     

An analysis of the finite element method for natural convection problems

We derive stability properties and error estimates for the finite element method when used to approximate heat flow in a fluid enclosed by a solid medium. The coupled Navier Stokes system involves the Boussinesq equations in the fluid-filled cavity linked through an interface with heat conduction in the solid enclosing the fluid. As we assume no extra regularity then can be shown to hold under mild restriction on the data (at least over a small time interval in R ³), we focus primarily on low order finite element spaces.     

Superconvergence analysis of fully discrete finite element methods for semilinear parabolic optimal control problems

We study the superconvergence property of fully discrete finite element approximation for quadratic optimal control problems governed by semilinear parabolic equations with control constraints. The time discretization is based on difference methods, whereas the space discretization is done using finite element methods. The state and the adjoint state are approximated by piecewise linear functions and the control is approximated by piecewise constant functions. First, we define a fully discrete finite element approximation scheme for the semilinear parabolic control problem. Second, we derive the superconvergence properties for the control, the state and the adjoint state. Finally, we do some numerical experiments for illustrating our theoretical results.