Bounds-constrained finite element approximation of time-dependent partial differential equations

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kirby, Robert C., Stephens, John D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Kirby, Robert C.
Stephens, John D.
author_facet Kirby, Robert C.
Stephens, John D.
contents Finite element methods provide accurate and efficient methods for the numerical solution of partial differential equations by means of restricting variational problems to finite-dimensional approximating spaces. However, they do not guarantee enforcement of bounds constraints inherent in the original problem. Previous work enforces these bounds constraints by replacing the variational equations with variational inequalities. We extend this approach to collocation-type Runge-Kutta methods for time-dependent problems, obtaining (formally) high order methods in both space and time. By using a novel reformulation of the collocation scheme, we can guarantee that the bounds constraints hold uniformly in time. Numerical examples for a model of phytoplankton growth, the heat equation, and the Cahn-Hilliard system are given.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_17464
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Bounds-constrained finite element approximation of time-dependent partial differential equations
Kirby, Robert C.
Stephens, John D.
Numerical Analysis
65M60 (primary) 65L06 (secondary)
Finite element methods provide accurate and efficient methods for the numerical solution of partial differential equations by means of restricting variational problems to finite-dimensional approximating spaces. However, they do not guarantee enforcement of bounds constraints inherent in the original problem. Previous work enforces these bounds constraints by replacing the variational equations with variational inequalities. We extend this approach to collocation-type Runge-Kutta methods for time-dependent problems, obtaining (formally) high order methods in both space and time. By using a novel reformulation of the collocation scheme, we can guarantee that the bounds constraints hold uniformly in time. Numerical examples for a model of phytoplankton growth, the heat equation, and the Cahn-Hilliard system are given.
title Bounds-constrained finite element approximation of time-dependent partial differential equations
topic Numerical Analysis
65M60 (primary) 65L06 (secondary)
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.17464