65N30 Finite elements, Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin methods, finite methods
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We derive and analyze the hierarchical basis-multigrid method for solving discretizations of self-adjoint, elliptic boundary value problems using piecewise linear triangular finite elements. The method is analyzed as a block symmetric Gauß- Seidel iteration with inner iterations, but it is strongly related to 2-level methods, to the standard multigrid V-cycle, and to earlier Jacobi-like hierarchical basis methods. The method is very robust, and has a nearly optimal convergence rate and work estimate. It is especially well suited to difficult problems with rough solutions, discretized using highly nonuniform, adaptively refined meshes.
Our focus is on Maxwell's equations in the low frequency range; two specific applications we aim at are time-stepping schemes for eddy current computations and the stationary double-curl equation for time-harmonic fields. We assume that the computational domain is discretized by triangles or tetrahedrons; for the finite element approximation we choose N\'{e}d\'{e}lec's $H(curl)$-conforming edge elements of the lowest order. For the solution of the arising linear equation systems we devise an algebraic multigrid preconditioner based on a spatial component splitting of the field. Mesh coarsening takes place in an auxiliary subspace, which is constructed with the aid of a nodal vector basis. Within this subspace coarse grids are created by exploiting the matrix graphs. Additionally, we have to cope with the kernel of the $curl$-operator, which comprises a considerable part of the spectral modes on the grid. Fortunately, the kernel modes are accessible via a discrete Helmholtz decomposition of the fields; they are smoothed by additional algebraic multigrid cycles. Numerical experiments are included in order to assess the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.
Part III of the paper is devoted to the construction of an adaptive FEM solver in two spatial dimensions, which is able to handle the singularly perturbed elliptic problems arising from discretization in time. The problems of error estimation and multilevel iterative solution of the linear systems - both uniformly well behaved with respect to the time step - can be solved simultaneously within the framework of preconditioning. A multilevel nodal basis preconditioner able to handle highly nonuniform meshes is derived. As a numerical example an application of the method to the bioheat-transfer equation is included. {\bf AMS CLASSIFICATION:} 65F10, 65F35, 65M50, 65M60, 65N30.
In this paper it is shown that for highly nonuniformly refined triangulations the condition number of the BPX preconditioner for elliptic finite element problems grows at most linearly in the depth of refinement. This is achieved by viewing the computational available version of the BPX preconditioner as an abstract additive Schwarz method with exact solvers. {\bf AMS CLASSIFICATION:} 65F10, 65F35, 65N20, 65N30.
Subspace decompositions of finite element spaces based on $L2$-like orthogonal projections play an important role for the construction and analysis of multigrid like iterative methods. Recently several authors proved the equivalence of the associated discrete norms with the $H^1$-norm. The present report gives an elementary, self-contained derivation of this result which is based on the use of $ K$-functionals known from the theory of interpolation spaces. {\bf Keywords:} multilevel methods, nonuniform meshes, optimal convergence rates. {\bf AMS(MOS) Subject classifications:} 65N55, 65N30, 65N50.
A cascadic multigrid (CMG) method for elliptic problems with strong material jumps is proposed and analyzed. Non--matching grids at interfaces between subdomains are allowed and treated by mortar elements. The arising saddle point problems are solved by a subspace confined conjugate gradient method as smoother for the CMG. Details of algorithmic realization including adaptivity are elaborated. Numerical results illustrate the efficiency of this CMG algorithm.
The solution of scattering problems described by the Helmholtz equation on unbounded domains is of importance for a wide variety of applications, for example in electromagnetics and acoustics. An implementation of a solver for scattering problems based on the programming language Matlab is introduced. The solver relies on the finite-element-method and on the perfectly-matched-layer-method, which allows for the simulation of scattering problems on complex geometries surrounded by inhomogeneous exterior domains. This report gives a number of detailed examples and can be understood as a user manual to the freely accessible code of the solver HelmPole.
This series of lectures has been given to a class of mathematics postdocs at a European summer school on Computational Mathematics Driven by Industrial Applications in Martina Franca, Italy (organized by CIME). It deals with a variety of challenging real life problems selected from clinical cancer therapy, communication technology, polymer production, and pharmaceutical drug design. All of these problems from rather diverse application areas share two common features: (a) they have been modelled by various differential equations -- elliptic, parabolic, or Schrödinger--type partial differential equations, countable ordinary diffential equations, or Hamiltonian systems, (b) their numerical solution has turned out to be real challenge to computational mathematics.
The paper presents the mathematical concepts underlying the new adaptive finite element code KASKADE, which, in its present form, applies to linear scalar second-order 2-D elliptic problems on general domains. Starting point for the new development is the recent work on hierarchical finite element bases due to Yserentant (1986). It is shown that this approach permits a flexible balance between iterative solver, local error estimator, and local mesh refinement device - which are the main components of an adaptive PDE code. Without use of standard multigrid techniques, the same kind of computational complexity is achieved - independent of any uniformity restrictions on the applied meshes. In addition, the method is extremely simple and all computations are purely local - making the method particularly attractive in view of parallel computing. The algorithmic approach is illustrated by a well-known critical test problem. {\bf Keywords:} finite elements, hierarchical basis, adaptive mesh refinement, preconditioned conjugate gradient methods.
The paper surveys recent progress in a joint mathematical-medical project on cancer therapy planning. Within so-called regional hyperthermia the computational task is to tune a set of coupled radiofrequency antennas such that a carefully measured tumor is locally heated, but any outside hot spots are avoided. A mathematical model of the whole clinical system -- air, applicator with antennas, water bolus, individual patient body -- involves Maxwell's equations in inhomogeneous media and a parabolic bioheat transfer equation, which represents a simplified model of heat transfer in the human body (ignoring strong blood vessel heat transport). Both PDEs need to be computed fast and to medical reliability (!) on a workstation within a clinical environment. This requirement triggered a series of new algorithmic developments to be reported here, among which is an adaptive multilevel FEM for Maxwell's equations, which dominates the numerical simulation time. In total, however, the main bulk of computation time (see Table 3 in Section 4 below) still goes into segmentation -- a necessary preprocessing step in the construction a 3D virtual patient from the input of a stack of 2D computed tomograms (left out here).