Comparisons of numerical solution methods for differential equations with discontinuous coefficients (Q1330679)

A boundary value problem \((a(x)y')' = g(x)\), \(\alpha_ i a(x_ i) y'(x_ i) + \beta_ i y(x_ i) = \gamma_ i\), \(i=0,1\) is studied where \(a\) is discontinuous. Two modeling situations with a single discontinuity are considered: (i) the discontinuity is located accurately relative to the grid spacing, (ii) the discontinuity is at some random point in a grid interval. Comparisons of eight numerical methods are given (three types of standard finite differences, mixed finite difference method, Rose's method, two types of Galerkin finite difference methods, mixed finite element method).