Adaptive vertex-centered finite volume methods for general second-order linear elliptic PDEs

We prove optimal convergence rates for the discretization of a general second-order linear elliptic PDE with an adaptive vertex-centered finite volume scheme. While our prior work Erath and Praetorius [SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 54 (2016), pp. 2228--2255] was restricted to symmetric problems, the present analysis also covers non-symmetric problems and hence the important case of present convection

An adaptive Uzawa FEM for the Stokes problem: Convergence without the inf-sup condition

We introduce and study an adaptive finite element method (FEM) for the Stokes system based on an Uzawa outer iteration to update the pressure and an elliptic adaptive inner iteration for velocity. We show linear convergence in terms of the outer iteration counter for the pairs of spaces consisting of continuous finite elements of degree k for velocity, whereas for pressure the elements can be either discontinuous of degree k - 1 or continuous of degree k -1 and k. The popular Taylor-Hood family is the sole example of stable elements included in the theory, which in turn relies on the stability of the continuous problem and thus makes no use of the discrete inf-sup condition. We discuss the realization and complexity of the elliptic adaptive inner solver and provide consistent computational evidence that the resulting meshes are quasi-optimal.Fil: Bänsch, Eberhard. Freie Universität Berlin;Fil: Morin, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Nochetto, Ricardo Horacio. University of Maryland; Estados Unido

Convergence of Adaptive Finite Element Methods

Adaptive finite element methods (FEMs) have been widely used in applications for over 20 years now. In practice, they converge starting from coarse grids, although no mathematical theory has been able to prove this assertion. Ensuring an error reduction rate based on a posteriori error estimators, together with a reduction rate of data oscillation (information missed by the underlying averaging process), we construct a simple and efficient adaptive FEM for elliptic partial differential equations. We prove that this algorithm converges with linear rate without any preliminary mesh adaptation nor explicit knowledge of constants. Any prescribed error tolerance is thus achieved in a finite number of steps. A number of numerical experiments in two and three dimensions yield quasi-optimal meshes along with a competitive performance. Extensions to higher order elements and applications to saddle point problems are discussed as well.Fil: Morin, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Nochetto, Ricardo Horacio. University of Maryland; Estados UnidosFil: Siebert, Kunibert G.. Universität Heidelberg

Convergence of an adaptive mixed finite element method for general second order linear elliptic problems

The convergence of an adaptive mixed finite element method for general second order linear elliptic problems defined on simply connected bounded polygonal domains is analyzed in this paper. The main difficulties in the analysis are posed by the non-symmetric and indefinite form of the problem along with the lack of the orthogonality property in mixed finite element methods. The important tools in the analysis are a posteriori error estimators, quasi-orthogonality property and quasi-discrete reliability established using representation formula for the lowest-order Raviart-Thomas solution in terms of the Crouzeix-Raviart solution of the problem. An adaptive marking in each step for the local refinement is based on the edge residual and volume residual terms of the a posteriori estimator. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical analysis.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figure