Error analysis of mixed finite element methods for wave propagation in double negative metamaterials

In this paper, we develop both semi-discrete and fully discrete mixed finite element methods for modeling wave propagation in three-dimensional double negative metamaterials. Optimal error estimates are proved for Nédélec spaces under the assumption of smooth solutions. To our best knowledge, this is the first error analysis obtained for Maxwell's equations when metamaterials are involved.     

Algebraic convergence for anisotropic edge elements in polyhedral domains

We study approximation errors for the h-version of Nédélec edge elements on anisotropically refined meshes in polyhedra. Both tetrahedral and hexahedral elements are considered, and the emphasis is on obtaining optimal convergence rates in the H(curl) norm for higher order elements. Two types of estimates are presented: First, interpolation error estimates for functions in anisotropic weighted Sobolev spaces. Here we consider not only the H(curl)-conforming Nédélec elements, but also the H(div)-conforming Raviart-Thomas elements which appear naturally in the discrete version of the de Rham complex. Our technique is to transport error estimates from the reference element to the physical element via highly anisotropic coordinate transformations. Second, Galerkin error estimates for the standard H(curl) approximation of time harmonic Maxwell equations. Here we use the anisotropic weighted Sobolev regularity of the solution on domains with three-dimensional edges and corners. We also prove the discrete compactness property needed for the convergence of the Maxwell eigenvalue problem. Our results generalize those of [40] to the case of polyhedral corners and higher order elements.     

On Solution to an Optimal Shape Design Problem in 3-Dimensional Linear Magnetostatics

In this paper we present theoretical, computational, and practical aspects concerning 3-dimensional shape optimization governed by linear magnetostatics. The state solution is approximated by the finite element method using Nédélec elements on tetrahedra. Concerning optimization, the shape controls the interface between the air and the ferromagnetic parts while the whole domain is fixed. We prove the existence of an optimal shape. Then we state a finite element approximation to the optimization problem and prove the convergence of the approximated solutions. In the end, we solve the problem for the optimal shape of an electromagnet that arises in the research on magnetooptic effects and that was manufactured afterwards.     

Gradient superconvergence on uniform simplicial partitions of polytopes

Superconvergence of the gradient for the linear simplicial finite-elementmethod applied to elliptic equations is a well known featurein one, two, and three space dimensions. In this paper we showthat, in fact, there exists an elegant proof of this featureindependent of the space dimension. As a result, superconvergencefor dimensions four and up is proved simultaneously. The keyingredient will be that we embed the gradients of the continuouspiecewise linear functions into a larger space for which wedescribe an orthonormal basis having some useful symmetry properties.Since gradients and rotations of standard finite-element functionsare in fact the rotation-free and divergence-free elements ofRaviart–Thomas and Nédélec spaces in threedimensions, we expect our results to have applications alsoin those contexts.     

Numerical electroseismic modeling: A finite element approach

Electroseismics is a procedure that uses the conversion of electromagnetic to seismic waves in a fluid-saturated porous rock due to the electrokinetic phenomenon. This work presents a collection of continuous and discrete time finite element procedures for electroseismic modeling in poroelastic fluid-saturated media. The model involves the simultaneous solution of Biot’s equations of motion and Maxwell’s equations in a bounded domain, coupled via an electrokinetic coefficient, with appropriate initial conditions and employing absorbing boundary conditions at the artificial boundaries. The 3D case is formulated and analyzed in detail including results on the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the initial boundary value problem. Apriori error estimates for a continuous-time finite element procedure based on parallelepiped elements are derived, with Maxwell’s equations discretized in space using the lowest order mixed finite element spaces of Nédélec, while for Biot’s equations a nonconforming element for each component of the solid displacement vector and the vector part of the Raviart-Thomas-Nédélec of zero order for the fluid displacement vector are employed. A fully implicit discrete-time finite element method is also defined and its stability is demonstrated. The results are also extended to the case of tetrahedral elements. The 2D cases of compressional and vertically polarized shear waves coupled with the transverse magnetic polarization (PSVTM-mode) and horizontally polarized shear waves coupled with the transverse electric polarization (SHTE-mode) are also formulated and the corresponding finite element spaces are defined. The 1D SHTE initial boundary value problem is also formulated and approximately solved using a discrete-time finite element procedure, which was implemented to obtain the numerical examples presented.     

A finite element method for approximating the time-harmonic Maxwell equations

Summary In this paper we study the use of Nédélec's curl conforming finite elements to approximate the time-harmonic Maxwell equations on a bounded domain. The analysis is complicated by the fact that the bilinear form is not coercive, and the principle part has a very large null-space. This difficulty is circumvented by using a discrete Helmholtz decomposition of the error vector. Numerical results are presented that compare two different linear elements.Research supported in part by grants from AFOSR and NSF     

Analysis of a finite element PML approximation for the three dimensional time-harmonic Maxwell problem

In our paper [Math. Comp. 76, 2007, 597-614] we considered the acoustic and electromagnetic scattering problems in three spatial dimensions. In particular, we studied a perfectly matched layer (PML) approximation to an electromagnetic scattering problem. We demonstrated both the solvability of the continuous PML approximations and the exponential convergence of the resulting solution to the solution of the original acoustic or electromagnetic problem as the layer increased.

In this paper, we consider finite element approximation of the truncated PML electromagnetic scattering problem. Specifically, we consider approximations which result from the use of Nédélec (edge) finite elements. We show that the resulting finite element problem is stable and gives rise to quasi-optimal convergence when the mesh size is sufficiently small.

     

Enveloppes inférieures de fonctions admissibles sur l'espace projectif complexe. Cas dissymétrique

This paper generalizes the first author's preceding works concerning admissible functions on certain Fano manifolds [A. Ben Abdesselem, Lower bound of admissible functions on sphere, Bull. Sci. Math. 126 (2002) 675-680 [2]; A. Ben Abdesselem, Enveloppes inférieures de fonctions admissibles sur l'espace projectif complexe. Cas symétrique, Bull. Sci. Math. 130 (2006) 341-353 [3]]. Here, we study a larger class of functions which can be less symmetric than the ones studied before. When the sup of these functions is null, we prove that they admit a lower bound, giving precisely Tian invariant [G. Tian, On Kähler-Einstein metrics on certain Kähler manifolds with C₁(M)>0, Invent. Math. 89 (1987) 225-246 [7]] (see also [T. Aubin, Réduction du cas positif de l'équation de Monge-Ampère sur les variétés Kählériennes à la démonstration d'une inégalité, J. Funct. Anal. 57 (1984) 143-153 [1]]) on these manifolds.     

Sur la convergence des méthodes d'éléments finis nonconformes pour des problèmes linéaires de coques minces

Résumé Dans cet article, nous étudions la convergence des méthodes d'éléments finis nonconformes pour l'approximation des problèmes de coques minces générales. Nous établissons des conditions suffisantes de convergence pour une large classe d'éléments finis, puis nous donnons des estimations de l'erreur sur les déplacements et les contraintes.

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On the convergence of nonconforming finite element method for linear thin shell problems

Summary In this paper, we study the convergence of nonconforming finite element method for the approximation of general thin shell problems. We give sufficient conditions of convergence for a large class of finite elements, then we estimate the error on the displacements and on the stresses.

     

Unisolvency for multivariate polynomial interpolation in Coatmèlec configurations of nodes

A new and straightforward proof of the unisolvability of the problem of multivariate polynomial interpolation based on Coatmèlec configurations of nodes, a class of properly posed set of nodes defined by hyperplanes, is presented. The proof generalizes a previous one for the bivariate case and is based on a recursive reduction of the problem to simpler ones following the so-called Radon-Bézout process.     

Estimations des erreurs de meilleure approximation polynomiale et d'interpolation de Lagrange dans les espaces de Sobolev d'ordre non entier

Résumé On établit des majorations explicites de I'erreur de meilleure approximation polynomiale ainsi que des majorations explicites et nonexplicites de I'erreur d'interpolation de Lagrange, lorsque la fonction considérée appartient à un espace de Sobolev d'ordre non entier défini sur un ouvert borné de ⁿ .Les résultats obtenus généralisent les résultats connus dans le cas des espaces de Sobolev d'ordre entier.

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Estimation of the best polynomial approximation error and the Lagrange interpolation error in fractional-order Ssobolev spaces

Summary Explicit bounds for the best polynomial approximation error, explicit and non-explicit bounds for the Lagrange interpolation error are derived for functions belonging to fractional order Sobolev spaces defined over a bounded open set in ⁿ .Thus the classical results of the integer order Sobolev spaces are extended.

     

Solution of Maxwell equation in axisymmetric geometry by Fourier series decompostion and by use of H (rot) conforming finite element

Summary. This study deals with the mathematical and numerical solution of time-harmonic Maxwell equation in axisymmetric geometry. Using Fourier decomposition, we define weighted Sobolev spaces of solution and we prove expected regularity results. A practical contribution of this paper is the construction of a class of finite element conforming with the H (rot) space equipped with the weighted measure rdrdz. It appears as an extension of the well-known cartesian mixed finite element of Raviart-Thomas-Nédélec [11]–[15]. These elements are built from classical lagrangian and mixed finite element, therefore no special approximations functions are needed. Finally, following works of Mercier and Raugel [10], we perform an interpolation error estimate for the simplest proposed element. Received March 15, 1996 / Revised version received November 30, 1998 / Published online December 6, 1999     

Implicit a posteriori error estimates for the Maxwell equations

An implicit a posteriori error estimation technique is presented and analyzed for the numerical solution of the time-harmonic Maxwell equations using Nédélec edge elements. For this purpose we define a weak formulation for the error on each element and provide an efficient and accurate numerical solution technique to solve the error equations locally. We investigate the well-posedness of the error equations and also consider the related eigenvalue problem for cubic elements. Numerical results for both smooth and non-smooth problems, including a problem with reentrant corners, show that an accurate prediction is obtained for the local error, and in particular the error distribution, which provides essential information to control an adaptation process. The error estimation technique is also compared with existing methods and provides significantly sharper estimates for a number of reported test cases.

     

On rank invariance of generalized Schwarz-Pick-Potapov block matrices of matrix-valued Carathéodory functions

In view of a multiple Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation problem, we study the rank of generalized Schwarz-Pick-Potapov block matrices of matrix-valued Carathéodory functions. Those matrices are determined by the values of a Carathéodory function and the values of its derivatives up to a certain order. We derive statements on rank invariance of such generalized Schwarz-Pick-Potapov block matrices. These results are applied to describe the case of exactly one solution for the finite multiple Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation problem and to discuss matrix-valued Carathéodory functions with the highest degree of degeneracy.     

A posteriori error estimates for Maxwell equations

Maxwell equations are posed as variational boundary value problems in the function space and are discretized by Nédélec finite elements. In Beck et al., 2000, a residual type a posteriori error estimator was proposed and analyzed under certain conditions onto the domain. In the present paper, we prove the reliability of that error estimator on Lipschitz domains. The key is to establish new error estimates for the commuting quasi-interpolation operators recently introduced in J. Schöberl, Commuting quasi-interpolation operators for mixed finite elements. Similar estimates are required for additive Schwarz preconditioning. To incorporate boundary conditions, we establish a new extension result.

     

Une représentation intégrale de l'erreur d'interpolation

Résumé La représentation intégrale de l'erreur d'interpolation dans le cas à une ou plusieurs variables est présentée comme une généralisation de la méthode du Wronskien dans le cas à une variable. Ceci est basé sur la construction d'un système d'opérateurs différentiels associé aux fonctions de base du procédé d'interpolation et sur le noyau de Neumann.

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An integral representation of interpolation error

The integral representation of interpolation error for one or several variables is considered as a generalization of Wronskien method for one variable. This is based on the construction of a system of differential operators associated with the basis interpolated functions and on the Neumann's Kernel.

     

Mixed finite element methods for stationary incompressible magneto–hydrodynamics

Summary. A new mixed variational formulation of the equations of stationary incompressible magneto–hydrodynamics is introduced and analyzed. The formulation is based on curl-conforming Sobolev spaces for the magnetic variables and is shown to be well-posed in (possibly non-convex) Lipschitz polyhedra. A finite element approximation is proposed where the hydrodynamic unknowns are discretized by standard inf-sup stable velocity-pressure space pairs and the magnetic ones by a mixed approach using Nédélecs elements of the first kind. An error analysis is carried out that shows that the proposed finite element approximation leads to quasi-optimal error bounds in the mesh-size. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000):65N30This work was partially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation under Project 2100-068126.02.     

Multilevel methods for mixed finite elements in three dimensions

In this paper we consider second order scalar elliptic boundary value problems posed over three–dimensional domains and their discretization by means of mixed Raviart–Thomas finite elements [18]. This leads to saddle point problems featuring a discrete flux vector field as additional unknown. Following Ewing and Wang [26], the proposed solution procedure is based on splitting the flux into divergence free components and a remainder. It leads to a variational problem involving solenoidal Raviart–Thomas vector fields. A fast iterative solution method for this problem is presented. It exploits the representation of divergence free vector fields as s of the –conforming finite element functions introduced by Nédélec [43]. We show that a nodal multilevel splitting of these finite element spaces gives rise to an optimal preconditioner for the solenoidal variational problem: Duality techniques in quotient spaces and modern algebraic multigrid theory [50, 10, 31] are the main tools for the proof. Received November 4, 1996 / Revised version received February 2, 1998     

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF WELL-CONDITIONED HIERARCHICAL BASES FOR TETRAHEDRAL H（curl）-CONFORMING NEDELEC ELEMENT

A partially orthonormal basis is constructed with better conditioning properties for tetrahedral H(curl)-conforming Nédélec elements.The shape functions are cla...     

Mixed finite elements for elasticity

Summary. There have been many efforts, dating back four decades, to develop stable mixed finite elements for the stress-displacement formulation of the plane elasticity system. This requires the development of a compatible pair of finite element spaces, one to discretize the space of symmetric tensors in which the stress field is sought, and one to discretize the space of vector fields in which the displacement is sought. Although there are number of well-known mixed finite element pairs known for the analogous problem involving vector fields and scalar fields, the symmetry of the stress field is a substantial additional difficulty, and the elements presented here are the first ones using polynomial shape functions which are known to be stable. We present a family of such pairs of finite element spaces, one for each polynomial degree, beginning with degree two for the stress and degree one for the displacement, and show stability and optimal order approximation. We also analyze some obstructions to the construction of such finite element spaces, which account for the paucity of elements available. Received January 10, 2001 / Published online November 15, 2001