A finite element approximation for the initial-value problem for nonlinear second-order differential equations (Q1070780)

A finite element (Galerkin-type) algorithm is given for the problem of the numerical solution of \((r(t)x'(t))'=f(t,x)\), \(x(a)=x_ a\), \(x'(a)=x'\!_ a\). The algorithm yields a direct method for solving second-order nonlinear differential equations and compares favorably with other direct methods. The authors obtain efficient and accurate numerical procedures comparing favorably with Runge-Kutta methods. An example and error estimates is given.