@misc{LangWalter, author = {Lang, Jens and Walter, Artur}, title = {A Finite Element Method Adaptive in Space and Time for Nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion- Systems.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0297-zib-755}, number = {SC-92-05}, abstract = {Large scale combustion simulations show the need for adaptive methods. First, to save computation time and mainly to resolve local and instationary phenomena. In contrast to the widespread method of lines, we look at the reaction- diffusion equations as an abstract Cauchy problem in an appropriate Hilbert space. This means, we first discretize in time, assuming the space problems solved up to a prescribed tolerance. So, we are able to control the space and time error separately in an adaptive approach. The time discretization is done by several adaptive Runge-Kutta methods whereas for the space discretization a finite element method is used. The different behaviour of the proposed approaches are demonstrated on many fundamental examples from ecology, flame propagation, electrodynamics and combustion theory. {\bf Keywords:} initial boundary value problem, Rothe- method, adaptive Runge-Kutta method, finite elements, mesh refinement. {\bf AMS CLASSIFICATION:} 65J15, 65M30, 65M50.}, language = {en} }