Applications of multilevel methods to practical problems (Q1179961)

The paper gives a nice review of some multilevel methods that are well suited for the solution of real-life linear and nonlinear boundary value problems. The paper starts with describing a first version of a hierarchical mesh generator and an improved version for interface problems. Then a survey of multilevel algorithms is given including multigrid methods, multigrid preconditioned conjugate gradients, hierarchical bases algorithms and domain decomposition methods. The corresponding convergence and complexity results are presented and especially the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods in connection with real-life problems with complicated geometries, interfaces and singularities of the solutions are discussed. Finally, the solution of nonlinear problems by multigrid Newton techniques is described and numerical examples from magnetic and thermomechanical field problems are given.