Equilibrium finite elements for the linear elastic problem

Summary We consider a class of equilibrium finite element methods for elasticity problems. The approximate stresses satisfy the equilibrium equations but the symmetry of the stress tensor is relaxed. Optimal error bounds for the stresses and numerical examples are given.     

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 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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Convergence of a penalty-finite element approximation for an obstacle problem

Summary This study establishes an error estimate for a penalty-finite element approximation of the variational inequality obtained by a class of obstacle problems. By special identification of the penalty term, we first show that the penalty solution converges to the solution of a mixed formulation of the variational inequality. The rate of convergence of the penalization is where is the penalty parameter. To obtain the error of finite element approximation, we apply the results obtained by Brezzi, Hager and Raviart for the mixed finite element method to the variational inequality.     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.

     

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.     

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.     

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 conforming finite element methods for the inhomogeneous stationary Navier-Stokes equations

Summary We consider the stationary Navier-Stokes equations, written in terms of the primitive variables, in the case where both the partial differential equations and boundary conditions are inhomogeneous. Under certain conditions on the data, the existence and uniqueness of the solution of a weak formulation of the equations can be guaranteed. A conforming finite element method is presented and optimal estimates for the error of the approximate solution are proved. In addition, the convergence properties of iterative methods for the solution of the discrete nonlinear algebraic systems resulting from the finite element algorithm are given. Numerical examples, using an efficient choice of finite element spaces, are also provided.Supported, in part, by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant No. AF-AFOSR-80-0083Supported, in part, by the same agency under Grant No. AF-AFOSR-80-0176-A. Both authors were also partially supported by NASA Contract No. NAS1-15810 while they were in residence at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23665, USA     

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 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.