Error analysis and applications of the Fourier-Galerkin Runge-Kutta schemes for high-order stiff PDEs (Q2389544)

A novel hybrid numerical scheme for solving stiff nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) of the type \[ u_t={\mathcal L}u +{\mathcal N} (u,t) + f(x,t),\;\;x \in [0,2\pi], \;t>0, \] with periodic boundary conditions is derived. Here the function \(f(x,t)\) is a given real valued function, \({\mathcal L}\) is a linear operator of arbitrary order and \({\mathcal N}\) is a nonlinear operator in the form \[ {\mathcal N }(u,t) =u_xu. \] The partial differential equation is discretized by the Fourier Galerkin technique in space and an integrating factor with a fourth order Runge-Kutta method in time is used. First the Fourier coefficients for the proposed method are derived. Then the truncation error for the novel FGIFRRK4 numerical scheme of order \(O(h^5)\) is proved. A temporal stability analysis concludes the theoretical results of the proposed paper. Second part of the paper consists of the numerical experiments using proposed novel scheme. First and second experiments concern the numerical solution of Korteweg -de Vries third order equation. In one space dimension it can be derived based on nonlinear waves equation in shallow water. It can be also found in acoustic waves in plasma. The computational results are compared with those obtained by the method of \textit{S. M. Cox} and \textit{P. C. Matthews} [J. Comput. Phys. 176, No.~2, 430--455 (2002; Zbl 1105.65069)] and they show the accuracy of proposed method. Third and fourth experiments are devoted to Kuramoto-Sivashinsky fourth order equation. This equation is studied in the context of inertial manifolds and finite-dimensional attractors and in the numerical simulations of dynamical behaviors. Obtained results are again compared with other methods and confirm good properties of the novel scheme. Last experiment offer numerical solution of the Kawahara fifth order equation. This equation arises in describing one dimensional propagation of small-amplitude long waves in problems of fluid dynamics and plasma physics.