Solution of the diffusion equation by finite elements in Lagrangian hydrodynamic codes (Q1100046)

The radiation diffusion equation is solved by the finite element method. The energy densities are point centered. These are integrated into a program architecture which requires zonally averaged quantities. Numerical results are presented which compare the scheme with existing finite difference techniques for zonal variables. Finite elements give better results for transport dominated problems on non-orthogonal meshes such as might be generated by Lagrangian hydrodynamic distortions.