Comparison of finite element and finite volume schemes for variational inequalities (Q2785702)

General finite volume (box) schemes are defined and studied for discretizing interior and boundary obstacle problems: Find \(u\in K=\{w\in V:w\geq\varphi\) in \(\Omega\} \neq\emptyset\), where \(V=\{w\in H^1(\Omega): w=0\) on \(\Gamma_1\}\) and \(a(u,v-u)\geq F(v-u) for all v\in K\). Here the bilinear form \(a\) and the functional \(F\) are defined by NEWLINE\[NEWLINEa(u,v)= \int_\Omega (k\nabla u\nabla v+quv) dx+\int_{\Gamma_2} \chi uvds\quad \text{and} \quad F(v)= \int_\Omega fv dx+ \int_{\Gamma_2} gvds.NEWLINE\]NEWLINE Convergence to the first and second orders is proved between the box and finite element solutions depending on the choice of the boxes. Numerical results are presented.