An improved finite-element flux-corrected transport algorithm (Q1282435)

We describe an improved finite-element flux-corrected transport method for the numerical solution of hydrodynamic conservation equations, and the applications of the method are extended to gas discharge problems. We use high- and low-order schemes and introduce variable diffusion coefficient; it is assumed to be constant in each element and is shown to transform the high-order solution to a scheme equivalent to an upwind scheme which has minimal diffusion but ensures positive results. This avoids the complexity of upwinding in finite element methods, especially in two dimensions. It is also shown that the correct amount of ``real'' diffusion may be easily added to the algorithm when required, for example, for electrons. Results are presented which show that the high-order scheme reduces to the upwind difference scheme when the new diffusion is used. Finally, the new method is applied to a streamer propagation problem in one dimension, and the results obtained are shown to agree well with previously published results. \(\copyright\) Academic Press.