Optimal \(L_\infty\) estimates for Galerkin methods for nonlinear singular two-point boundary value problems (Q2516056)

The one-dimensional singular problem \[ \begin{cases} -(x^b a(x) u'(x))' = x^b f(x,u), \qquad x \in (0,1), \\ u'(0) = 0, \qquad u(1) = 0, \end{cases}\tag{1} \] arises when studying diffusion equations on spherically symmetric domains under a conveniently selected change of variables. Here \(b > 0\) and the functions \(a(x)\) and \(f(x)\) are such that the problem (1) has a unique solution. In the present paper, several error estimates are derived when problem (1) is numerically solved with a symmetric Galerkin method. First, the linear case is considered and optimal estimates in the maximum norm are obtained. Then, the treatment is generalized to cover also the nonlinear, general case (1). Finally, to obtain higher-order rates of convergence at the interior points of the discretized domain, an especially refined mesh near \(x=0\) is introduced. The theoretical results are illustrated on two problems with exact know solution. The observed rate of convergence is in agreement with the analytical estimates.