A New Characteristic Nonconforming Mixed Finite Element Scheme for Convection-Dominated Diffusion Problem

A characteristic nonconforming mixed finite element method (MFEM) is proposed for the convection-dominated diffusion problem based on a new mixed variational formulation. The optimal order error estimates for both the original variable u and the auxiliary variable σ with respect to the space are obtained by employing some typical characters of the interpolation operator instead of the mixed (or expanded mixed) elliptic projection which is an indispensable tool in the traditional MFEM analysis. At last, we give some numerical results to confirm the theoretical analysis

A cell-centred finite volume approximation for second order partial derivative operators with full matrix on unstructured meshes in any space dimension

Finite volume methods for problems involving second order operators with full diffusion matrix can be used thanks to the definition of a discrete gradient for piecewise constant functions on unstructured meshes satisfying an orthogonality condition. This discrete gradient is shown to satisfy a strong convergence property on the interpolation of regular functions, and a weak one on functions bounded for a discrete $H^1$ norm. To highlight the importance of both properties, the convergence of the finite volume scheme on a homogeneous Dirichlet problem with full diffusion matrix is proven, and an error estimate is provided. Numerical tests show the actual accuracy of the method

Unified convergence analysis of numerical schemes for a miscible displacement problem

This article performs a unified convergence analysis of a variety of numerical methods for a model of the miscible displacement of one incompressible fluid by another through a porous medium. The unified analysis is enabled through the framework of the gradient discretisation method for diffusion operators on generic grids. We use it to establish a novel convergence result in $L^\infty(0,T; L^2(\Omega))$ of the approximate concentration using minimal regularity assumptions on the solution to the continuous problem. The convection term in the concentration equation is discretised using a centred scheme. We present a variety of numerical tests from the literature, as well as a novel analytical test case. The performance of two schemes are compared on these tests; both are poor in the case of variable viscosity, small diffusion and medium to small time steps. We show that upstreaming is not a good option to recover stable and accurate solutions, and we propose a correction to recover stable and accurate schemes for all time steps and all ranges of diffusion

Mathematical Aspects of Computational Fluid Dynamics

[no abstract available

A stabilized finite element method for inverse problems subject to the convection-diffusion equation. I: diffusion-dominated regime

The numerical approximation of an inverse problem subject to the convection--diffusion equation when diffusion dominates is studied. We derive Carleman estimates that are on a form suitable for use in numerical analysis and with explicit dependence on the P\'eclet number. A stabilized finite element method is then proposed and analysed. An upper bound on the condition number is first derived. Combining the stability estimates on the continuous problem with the numerical stability of the method, we then obtain error estimates in local $H^1$- or $L^2$-norms that are optimal with respect to the approximation order, the problem's stability and perturbations in data. The convergence order is the same for both norms, but the $H^1$-estimate requires an additional divergence assumption for the convective field. The theory is illustrated in some computational examples.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures; in v2 we added two remarks and an appendix on psiDOs, and made some minor correction

Finite elements for scalar convection-dominated equations and incompressible flow problems - A never ending story?

The contents of this paper is twofold. First, important recent results concerning finite element methods for convection-dominated problems and incompressible flow problems are described that illustrate the activities in these topics. Second, a number of, in our opinion, important problems in these fields are discussed

Monotonicity-preserving finite element schemes based on differentiable nonlinear stabilization

In this work, we propose a nonlinear stabilization technique for scalar conservation laws with implicit time stepping. The method relies on an artificial diffusion method, based on a graph-Laplacian operator. It is nonlinear, since it depends on a shock detector. Further, the resulting method is linearity preserving. The same shock detector is used to gradually lump the mass matrix. The resulting method is LED, positivity preserving, and also satisfies a global DMP. Lipschitz continuity has also been proved. However, the resulting scheme is highly nonlinear, leading to very poor nonlinear convergence rates. We propose a smooth version of the scheme, which leads to twice differentiable nonlinear stabilization schemes. It allows one to straightforwardly use Newton’s method and obtain quadratic convergence. In the numerical experiments, steady and transient linear transport, and transient Burgers’ equation have been considered in 2D. Using the Newton method with a smooth version of the scheme we can reduce 10 to 20 times the number of iterations of Anderson acceleration with the original non-smooth scheme. In any case, these properties are only true for the converged solution, but not for iterates. In this sense, we have also proposed the concept of projected nonlinear solvers, where a projection step is performed at the end of every nonlinear iterations onto a FE space of admissible solutions. The space of admissible solutions is the one that satisfies the desired monotonic properties (maximum principle or positivity).Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Nonconforming formulations with spectral element methods

A spectral element algorithm for solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes and heat transfer equations is developed, with an emphasis on extending the classical conforming Galerkin formulations to nonconforming spectral elements. The new algorithm employs both the Constrained Approximation Method (CAM), and the Mortar Element Method (MEM) for p-and h-type nonconforming elements. Detailed descriptions, and formulation steps for both methods, as well as the performance comparisons between CAM and MEM, are presented. This study fills an important gap in the literature by providing a detailed explanation for treatment of p-and h-type nonconforming interfaces. A comparative eigenvalue spectrum analysis of diffusion and convection operators is provided for CAM and MEM. Effects of consistency errors due to the nonconforming formulations on the convergence of steady and time dependent problems are studied in detail. Incompressible flow solvers that can utilize these nonconforming formulations on both p- and h-type nonconforming grids are developed and validated. Engineering use of the developed solvers are demonstrated by detailed parametric analyses of oscillatory flow forced convection heat transfer in two-dimensional channels