A coupling method based on new MFE and FE for fourth-order parabolic equation (Q2511394)

The authors study and analyze a new coupling method, which is based on a new mixed finite element scheme (see, e.g. [\textit{D. Shi} and \textit{Y. Zhang}, Appl. Math. Comput. 218, No. 7, 3176--3186 (2011; Zbl 1244.65143)]) and a finite element scheme, for solving fourth-order parabolic partial differential equations. Introducing a variable, the authors split the fourth-order parabolic equation into the coupled system of second-order equations. Then, they solve one equation by the finite element method and approximate the other equation by the new mixed finite element method. Stability for the fully discrete scheme is proved and semi-discrete error estimates and fully discrete error estimates based on the backward Euler scheme are obtained.