A mixed finite element approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations

Summary We study in this paper the convergence of a new mixed finite element approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations. This approximation uses low order Lagrange elements, leads to optimal order of convergence for the velocity and the pressure, and induces an efficient numerical algorithm for the solution of this problem.     

Combined finite element and spectral approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations

Summary We present a method for the numerical approximation of Navier-Stokes equations with one direction of periodicity. In this direction a Fourier pseudospectral method is used, in the two others a standard F.E.M. is applied. We prove optimal rate of convergence where the two parameters of discretization intervene independently.

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Approximation des équations de Navier-Stokes par une méthode éléments finis-spectrale Fourier

Resumé On présente une méthode d'approximation numérique des équations de Navier-Stokes possédant une direction de périodicité. Dans cette direction une méthode pseudospectrale basée sur des développements en série de Fourier est utilisée, dans les deux autres on applique une méthode d'éléments finis standard. On montre que la convergence est optimale et que les deux paramètres de discrétisation peuvent être choisis de façon indépendante.

     

An analysis of a mixed finite element method for the Navier-Stokes equations

Summary A simple mixed finite element method is developed to solve the steady state, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in a neighborhood of an isolated—but not necessarily unique—solution. Convergence is established under very mild restrictions on the triangulation, and, when the solution is sufficiently smooth, optimal error bounds are obtained.     

On numerical asymptotic behavior of finite element solutions for parabolic equations

Summary In this paper, we investigate the numerical asymptotic behavior of the finite element solutions for linear parabolic equations under some appropriate conditions. We also give some results of numerical experiments in the two dimensional problems to indicate the effectiveness of our results.     

Some equilibrium finite element methods for two-dimensional elasticity problems

Summary We consider some equilibrium finite element methods for two-dimensional elasticity problems. The stresses and the displacements are approximated by using piecewise linear functions. We establishL ₂-estimates of orderO(h ²) for both stresses and displacements.     

On the numerical analysis of the Von Karman equations: Mixed finite element approximation and continuation techniques

Summary The purpose of this paper is to study the approximation of the Von Karman equations by the mixed finite element scheme of Miyoshi and to follow the solutions arcs at a neighbourhood of the first eigenvalue of the linearized problem. This last problem is solved by a continuation method.     

On the mixed finite element approximation for the buckling of plates

We consider the mixed finite element method for the buckling problem of the thin plate by using piecewise linear polynomials. We give error estimates for the approximate eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions.     

The finite element method for parabolic equations

Summary In this first of two papers, computable a posteriori estimates of the space discretization error in the finite element method of lines solution of parabolic equations are analyzed for time-independent space meshes. The effectiveness of the error estimator is related to conditions on the solution regularity, mesh family type, and asymptotic range for the mesh size. For clarity the results are limited to a model problem in which piecewise linear elements in one space dimension are used. The results extend straight-forwardly to systems of equations and higher order elements in one space dimension, while the higher dimensional case requires additional considerations. The theory presented here provides the basis for the analysis and adaptive construction of time-dependent space meshes, which is the subject of the second paper. Computational results show that the approach is practically very effective and suggest that it can be used for solving more general problems.The work was partially supported by ONR Contract N00014-77-C-0623     

On finite element approximation of the gradient for solution of Poisson equation

Summary A nonconforming mixed finite element method is presented for approximation of w with w=f,w| _r =0. Convergence of the order is proved, when linear finite elements are used. Only the standard regularity assumption on triangulations is needed.     

Analysis of finite element methods for second order boundary value problems using mesh dependent norms

This paper presents a new approach to the analysis of finite element methods based onC ⁰-finite elements for the approximate solution of 2nd order boundary value problems in which error estimates are derived directly in terms of two mesh dependent norms that are closely ralated to theL ₂ norm and to the 2nd order Sobolev norm, respectively, and in which there is no assumption of quasi-uniformity on the mesh family. This is in contrast to the usual analysis in which error estimates are first derived in the 1st order Sobolev norm and subsequently are derived in theL ₂ norm and in the 2nd order Sobolev norm — the 2nd order Sobolev norm estimates being obtained under the assumption that the functions in the underlying approximating subspaces lie in the 2nd order Sobolev space and that the mesh family is quasi-uniform.     

Error estimates for the finite element solution of variational inequalities

Summary We study the mixed finite element approximation of variational inequalities, taking as model problems the so called obstacle problem and unilateral problem. Optimal error bounds are obtained in both cases.Supported in part by National Science Foundation grant MCS 75-09457, and by Office of Naval Research grant N00014-76-C-0369     

On a mixed finite element approximation of the Stokes problem (I)

Summary We study in this paper a new mixed finite element approximation of the Stokes' problem in the velocity pressure formulation. This approximation which is based on a new variational principle allows the use of low order Lagrange elements and leads to optimal order of convergence for the velocity and the pressure. Iterative and direct methods for the solution of the approximate problems will be discussed in a forthcoming paper.     

Efficient algorithms for solving tensor product finite element equations

Summary There are currently several highly efficient methods for solving linear systems associated with finite difference approximations of Poisson's equation in rectangular regions. These techniques are employed to develop both direct and iterative methods for solving the linear systems arising from the use ofC ⁰ quadratic orC ¹ cubic tensor product finite elements.     

Error estimates for the combinedh andp versions of the finite element method

Summary In theh-version of the finite element method, convergence is achieved by refining the mesh while keeping the degree of the elements fixed. On the other hand, thep-version keeps the mesh fixed and increases the degree of the elements. In this paper, we prove estimates showing the simultaneous dependence of the order of approximation on both the element degrees and the mesh. In addition, it is shown that a proper design of the mesh and distribution of element degrees lead to a better than polynomial rate of convergence with respect to the number of degrees of freedom, even in the presence of corner singularities. Numerical results comparing theh-version,p-version, and combinedh-p-version for a one dimensional problem are presented.     

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.     

Superconvergence phenomenon in the finite element method arising from averaging gradients

Summary We study a superconvergence phenomenon which can be obtained when solving a 2^nd order elliptic problem by the usual linear elements. The averaged gradient is a piecewise linear continuous vector field, the value of which at any nodal point is an average of gradients of linear elements on triangles incident with this nodal point. The convergence rate of the averaged gradient to an exact gradient in theL ²-norm can locally be higher even by one than that of the original piecewise constant discrete gradient.     

Monotone explicit iterations of the finite element approximations for the nonlinear boundary value problem

Summary In this paper, we consider monotone explicit iterations of the finite element schemes for the nonlinear equations associated with the boundary value problem u=bu ², based on piecewise linear polynomials and the lumping operator. These iterations construct the monotonically decreasing and increasing sequences, and convergence proofs are given. Finally, we present some numerical examples verifying the effectiveness of the theory.     

A finite element lumped mass scheme for solving eigenvalue problems of circular arches

Summary In this paper, we present a finite element lumped mass scheme for eigenvalue problems of circular arch structures, and give error estimates for the approximation. They assert that approximate eigenvalues and eigenfuctions converge to the exact ones. Some numerical examples are also given to illustrate our results.     

On the stability of bilinear-constant velocity-pressure finite elements

Summary An analysis of the Babuka stability of bilinear/constant finite element pairs for viscous flow calculations is given. An unstable mode not of the checkerboard type is given for which the stability constant turns out to beO(h). Thus, the indicated spaces are not stable in general for numerical calculation.Work supported by U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant AF-AFOSR-82-0213     

On the efficient solution of nonlinear finite element equations. II

Summary We consider nonlinear variational inequalities corresponding to a locally convex minimization problem with linear constraints of obstacle type. An efficient method for the solution of the discretized problem is obtained by combining a slightly modified projected SOR-Newton method with the projected version of thec g-accelerated relaxation method presented in a preceding paper. The first algorithm is used to approximately reach in relatively few steps the proper subspace of active constraints. In the second phase a Kuhn-Tucker point is found to prescribed accuracy. Global convergence is proved and some numerical results are presented.