Towards a general integration algorithm for time-dependent one- dimensional systems of parabolic partial differential equations using the method of lines (Q1200185)

The author studies nonlinear systems of parabolic partial differential equations by the method of lines. In the algorithm so developed the second-order spatial derivatives are approximated by 3,5,7-point central difference schemes. The first order spatial derivatives are approximated by hybrid schemes that combine central difference with upwinding schemes based on the 2,3,4,5-points interpolating polynomial formulas. The resulting systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved by using a variable time step based on the backward differentiation formulas. Some numerical tests are also appended.