A course in triangulations for solving equations with deformations (Q762887)

Simplicial methods for solving nonlinear problems are based on a piecewise linear homotopy which deforms the given problem to a trivial problem with a known solution. Beginning with the solution to the trivial problem a path of solutions is followed as the problem is deformed back to the given problem. The path terminates with a solution to the given problem. Subdivisions and triangulations provide the understructure on which to build the piecewise linear homotopy. The path of solutions proceeds through a sequence of adjacent cells (or simplexes) of the subdivision (or triangulation). In this book a class of triangulations used for this purpose is discussed. This class, called variable rate refining triangulations, is carefully developed in four major stages. In the preliminaries (Section 1-4), the motivation, goals, organization, mathematical background, definitions of subdivisions, and elementary properties of subdivisions are discussed. From this point on, the manuscript is self contained. The second stage (Section 6-12) contains an extensive study of the Freudenthal triangulation, which has played a role in virtually every triangulation used in simplicial methods. The third stage (Section 13-16) involves the construction of further subdivisions which are needed to form the variable rate refining triangulations in the final stage (Section 17-18). For each presented subdivision and triangulation, representation and replacement rules are developed. These are the instruments which enables one to follow the path of solutions. The material of the book is carefully organized. A sequence of pictures provide a better understanding for the defined subdivisions and triangulations. Replacement rules are summarized in clearly arranged flow charts. Since the book concentrates on subdivisions and triangulations (there are only a few remarks on the role of triangulations and replacement rules for simplicial methods), it is highly recommended to those readers, who are familiar with simplicial methods and who are interested in a thorough discussion of the underlying triangulations.