Isoparametric finite element methods for nonlinear Dirichlet problem (Q1098591)

The author constructs an isoparametric finite element scheme approximating the nonlinear nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary value problem \[ (1)\quad u\in H^ 1_ g(\Omega): \int_{\Omega}a(x,u)\nabla^ Tu\nabla vdx=\int_{\Omega}fv\quad dx\forall v\in H^ 1_ O(\Omega) \] in some plane bounded domain \(\Omega\) with a sufficiently smooth boundary \(\Gamma\), where \(H^ 1_ g(\Omega)=\{v\in H^ 1(\Omega): v=g\quad on\quad \Gamma \}.\) The finite element scheme is obtained on the basis of isoparametric quadratic triangular elements and by means of numerical integration. Under certain additional conditions imposed on the smoothness of the data and on the quadrature formula used, the author obtains the optimal-order error estimate \(\| u^*-\tilde u^*_ h\|_{O,\Omega}+h\| u^*- \tilde u^*_ h\|_{1,\Omega}\leq c\quad h^ 3,\) where \(u^*\) is the solution of (grid generation; grid generator; directional control. The authors describe a minimization algorithm for finding a two- dimensional grid aligned with a pair of vector fields. The problem is reduced to the solution of a pair of second order partial differential equations for the coordinates x and y. Appropriate boundary conditions are prescribed in terms of the boundaries of the region to be covered. Certain difficulties in the numerical solution of the problem are indicated and methods of avoiding them suggested. Some examples are given using both directional and/or orthogonal control.