A finite volume method for a diffusion-convection problem: the constant velocity case (Q2470918)

This paper deals with the numerical solution of one dimensional diffusion convection equations by means of finite volume techniques coupled with a classical upwind. The 1D model problem is given by \( - \partial_x [ D(x) \partial_x u (x) ] + V \partial_x u(x) = f(x),\) \( x \in (0,1) \) with \( u(0)=\alpha, u(1) = \beta, \) where \( D(x)\) is a piecewise continuous function that satisfies \( 0 < D^{-} \leq D(x) \leq D^{+}\), \(V\) a real constant and \( f = f(x)\). In this setting, taking a uniform grid \(x_i, i=0, \dots ,N\) on the integration interval \((0,1)\) and integrating over \( ( x_{i-1/2}, x_{i+1/2})\), and approximating successively the diffusion and convection terms two finite difference schemes are proposed. After proving the existence of a unique solution, by using a discrete Poincaré type inequality, some stability results are derived that allow the authors to obtain error estimates of the discrete schemes. The paper ends displaying the results of some numerical experiments of schemes with and without the upwind technique.