Computational and Applied Math Proseminar

Department of Mathematics, Arizona State University

Tuesday, May 5, 1997, 3:05 p.m. in GWC Room 604

Xiaohong Ding

Department of Mathematics

Theoretical and Numerical Evaluation of Convergence Acceleration for the Stokes Problem (Dissertation Defense)

Abstract This research utilized the finite element method for the numerical solution of partial differential equation. The ultimate goal is to apply the results obtained to the Navier-Stokes equation of fluid mechanics. This research does not address the nonlinearity of this problem and consequently considers problems of Stokes type which we model by a mixed method for a linear elliptic equation of second order. This results in a saddle-point problem for which the efficient numerical solution by preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithms is known to be much more difficult due to the indefiniteness of the system matrix. This dissertation uses an Uzawa-type method to iteratively approximate the discrete solution. Based on the optimal determination of the spectral radius for the iteration matrix at the elemental level an effective preconditioning is proposed. The rate of convergence of the method is independent of the mesh parameter and by an appropriate choice of parameters can be reduced substantially over that for standard preconditioners, such as, by the diagonal of the system matrix. The main results of this work are estimates of convergence factors for a class of preconditioners and a verification of the obtained acceleration through some numerical experiments for a Matlab implementation.

For further information please contact: mittelmann@asu.edu