A boundary element method for a nonlinear boundary value problem in steady-state heat transfer (Q1900687)

The mathematical model of steady-state heat transfer with radiation is represented by the nonlinear boundary value problem (1) \(\Delta u = 0\) in \(\Omega\), \({\partial u \over \partial n} + \gamma |u |^3 u = f(x)\) on \(\Gamma\), where \(\Omega \subset\mathbb{R}^2\) is a bounded domain with sufficiently smooth boundary \(\Gamma\), \(\gamma\) is a positive constant and \(f\) a given function on \(\Gamma\). Problem (1) is reduced to a boundary variational problem \((B)\) considered in appropriate Sobolev spaces over \(\Gamma \), and the discretization \((B_h)\) of this problem in some finite-dimensional subspaces is formulated. Assuming \(f \in W^{-1/2,2}(\Gamma)\) the author proves the unique solvability of both problems \((B)\) and \((B_h)\) assuming \(f \in W^{- 1/2,2} (\Gamma)\) (so \(f\) does not need to be smooth). Further two theorems concerning the estimate of the error are proved. The paper ends with a numerical example. The described results are related to the paper of \textit{K. Ruotsalainen} and \textit{W. Wendland} [Numer. Math. 53, No. 3, 299-314 (1988; Zbl 0651.65081)], quoted by the author in the introduction.