Downloads & Free Reading Options - Results

Dirac-delta distributions are often crucial components of the solid-fluid coupling operators in immersed solution methods for fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems. This is certainly so for methods like the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) or the Immersed Finite Element Method (IFEM), where Dirac-delta distributions are approximated via smooth functions. By contrast, a truly variational formulation of immersed methods does not require the use of Dirac-delta distributions, either formally or practically. This has been shown in the Finite Element Immersed Boundary Method (FEIBM), where the variational structure of the problem is exploited to avoid Dirac-delta distributions at both the continuous and the discrete level. In this paper, we generalize the FEIBM to the case where an incompressible Newtonian fluid interacts with a general hyperelastic solid. Specifically, we allow (i) the mass density to be different in the solid and the fluid, (ii) the solid to be either viscoelastic of differential type or purely elastic, and (iii) the solid to be and either compressible or incompressible. At the continuous level, our variational formulation combines the natural stability estimates of the fluid and elasticity problems. In immersed methods, such stability estimates do not transfer to the discrete level automatically due to the non- matching nature of the finite dimensional spaces involved in the discretization. After presenting our general mathematical framework for the solution of FSI problems, we focus in detail on the construction of natural interpolation operators between the fluid and the solid discrete spaces, which guarantee semi-discrete stability estimates and strong consistency of our spatial discretization.

The aim of this paper is to propose a systematic way to obtain convergent finite element schemes for the Darcy-Stokes flow problem by combining well-known mixed finite elements that are separately convergent for Darcy and Stokes problems. In the approach in which the Darcy problem is set in its natural $\mathbf{H}(\text{div})$ formulation and the Stokes problem is expressed in velocity-pressure form, the transmission condition ensuring global mass conservation becomes essential. As opposed to the strategy that handles weakly this transmission condition through a Lagrange multiplier, we impose here this restriction exactly in the space of global velocity field. Our analysis of the Galerkin discretization of the resulting problem reveals that, if the mixed finite element space used in the Darcy domain admits an $\mathbf{H}(\text{div})$-stable discrete lifting of the normal trace, then it can be combined with any stable Stokes mixed finite element of the same order to deliver a stable global method with quasi-optimal convergence rate. Finally, we present a series of numerical tests confirming our theoretical convergence estimates.

We survey some mathematical aspects of finite element methods for incompressible viscous flows, concentrating on the steady primitive variable formulation. We address the discretization of a weak formulation of the Navier Stokes equations; we then consider the div-stability condition, whose satisfaction insures the stability of the approximation. Specific choices of finite element spaces for the velocity and pressure are then discussed. Finally, the connection between different weak formulations and a variety of boundary conditions is explored.

Proofs of convergence of adaptive finite element methods for the approximation of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of linear elliptic problems have been given in a several recent papers. A key step in establishing such results for multiple and clustered eigenvalues was provided by Dai et. al. (2014), who proved convergence and optimality of AFEM for eigenvalues of multiplicity greater than one. There it was shown that a theoretical (non-computable) error estimator for which standard convergence proofs apply is equivalent to a standard computable estimator on sufficiently fine grids. Gallistl (2015) used a similar tool in order to prove that a standard adaptive FEM for controlling eigenvalue clusters for the Laplacian using continuous piecewise linear finite element spaces converges with optimal rate. When considering either higher-order finite element spaces or non-constant diffusion coefficients, however, the arguments of Dai et. al. and Gallistl do not yield equivalence of the practical and theoretical estimators for clustered eigenvalues. In this note we provide this missing key step, thus showing that standard adaptive FEM for clustered eigenvalues employing elements of arbitrary polynomial degree converge with optimal rate. We additionally establish that a key user-defined input parameter in the AFEM, the bulk marking parameter, may be chosen entirely independently of the properties of the target eigenvalue cluster. All of these results assume a fineness condition on the initial mesh in order to ensure that the nonlinearity is sufficiently resolved.

We propose a simple post-processing technique for linear and high order continuous Galerkin Finite Element Methods (CGFEMs) to obtain locally conservative flux field. The post-processing technique requires solving an auxiliary problem on each element independently which results in solving a linear algebra system whose size is low for any order CGFEM. The post-processing could have been done directly from the finite element solution that results in locally conservative flux on the element. However, the normal flux is not continuous at the elemental boundary. To construct locally conservative flux field whose normal component is also continuous, we propose to do the post-processing on the nodal-centered control volumes which are constructed from the original finite element mesh. We show that the post-processed solution converges in an optimal fashion to the true solution in an H1 semi-norm. We present various numerical examples to demonstrate the performance of the post-processing technique.

In this paper, the authors devise a new discretization scheme for div-curl systems defined in connected domains with heterogeneous media by using the weak Galerkin finite element method. Two types of boundary value problems are considered in the algorithm development: (1) normal boundary condition, and (2) tangential boundary condition. A new variational formulation is developed for the normal boundary value problem by using the Helmholtz decomposition which avoids the computation of functions in the harmonic fields. Both boundary value problems are reduced to a general saddle-point problem involving the curl and divergence operators, for which the weak Galerkin finite element method is devised and analyzed. The novelty of the technique lies in the discretization of the divergence operator applied to vector fields with heterogeneous media. Error estimates of optimal order are established for the corresponding finite element approximations in various discrete Sobolev norms.

Mixed finite element methods solve a PDE using two or more variables. The theory of Discrete Exterior Calculus explains why the degrees of freedom associated to the different variables should be stored on both primal and dual domain meshes with a discrete Hodge star used to transfer information between the meshes. We show through analysis and examples that the choice of discrete Hodge star is essential to the numerical stability of the method. Additionally, we define interpolation functions and discrete Hodge stars on dual meshes which can be used to create previously unconsidered mixed methods. Examples from magnetostatics and Darcy flow are examined in detail.

We propose and analyse a fully-discrete discontinuous Galerkin time-stepping method for parabolic Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman equations with Cordes coefficients. The method is consistent and unconditionally stable on rather general unstructured meshes and time-partitions. Error bounds are obtained for both rough and regular solutions, and it is shown that for sufficiently smooth solutions, the method is arbitrarily high-order with optimal convergence rates with respect to the mesh size, time-interval length and temporal polynomial degree, and possibly suboptimal by an order and a half in the spatial polynomial degree. Numerical experiments on problems with strongly anisotropic diffusion coefficients and early-time singularities demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of the method, with exponential convergence rates under combined $hp$- and $\tau q$-refinement.

62 p. 28 cm

62 p. 28 cm

62 p. 28 cm

62 p. 28 cm

62 p. 28 cm

Modern numerical methods for the optimization of large discretized systems are now well developed and highly efficient in the case of thin walled elastic structures modeled by finite elements. However, this is not yet true for structures whose components are subject simultaneously to bending and extension loads. In this paper, the idea of Generalized Optimality Criterion (GOC), set forth in previous final scientific reports for bar, membrane and pure bending elements, is extended to deal with general beam and flat shell elements. The modifications brought to the GOC result in explicit approximations for the behavior constraints.(Author)

Underintegrated methods are investigated with respect to their stability and convergence properties. The focus was on identifying regions where they work and regions where techniques such as hourglass viscosity and hourglass control can be used. Results obtained show that underintegrated methods typically lead to finite element stiffness with spurious modes in the solution. However, problems exist (scalar elliptic boundary value problems) where underintegrated with hourglass control yield convergent solutions. Also, stress averaging in underintegrated stiffness calculations does not necessarily lead to stable or convergent stress states.

Over the past few years finite element based procedures for the solution of high speed viscous compressible flows were developed. The objective of this research is to build upon the finite element concepts which have already been demonstrated and to develop these ideas to produce a method which is applicable to the solution of large scale practical problems. The problems of interest range from three dimensional full vehicle Euler simulations to local analysis of three-dimensional viscous laminar flow. Transient Euler flow simulations involving moving bodies are also to be included. An important feature of the research is to be the coupling of the flow solution methods with thermal/structural modeling techniques to provide an integrated fluid/thermal/structural modeling capability. The progress made towards achieving these goals during the first twelve month period of the research is presented.

Fluid flow applications can involve a number of coupled problems. One is the simulation of free-surface flows, which require the solution of a free-boundary problem. Within this problem, the governing equations of fluid flow are coupled with a domain deformation approach. This work reviews five of those approaches: interface tracking using a boundary-conforming mesh and, in the interface capturing context, the level-set method, the volume-of-fluid method, particle methods, as well as the phase-field method. The history of each method is presented in combination with the most recent developments in the field. Particularly, the topics of extended finite elements (XFEM) and NURBS-based methods, such as Isogeometric Analysis (IGA), are addressed. For illustration purposes, two applications have been chosen: two-phase flow involving drops or bubbles and sloshing tanks. The challenges of these applications, such as the geometrically correct representation of the free surface or the incorporation of surface tension forces, are discussed.

This research report is presented in three parts. In the first part, acoustical analyses were performed on modes of vibration of the housing of a transmission of a gear test rig developed by NASA. The modes of vibration of the transmission housing were measured using experimental modal analysis. The boundary element method (BEM) was used to calculate the sound pressure and sound intensity on the surface of the housing, and the radiation efficiency of each mode. The radiation efficiency of each of the transmission housing modes was then compared to theoretical results for a finite baffled plate. In the second part, analytical and experimental validation of methods to predict structural vibration and radiated noise are presented. A rectangular box excited by a mechanical shaker was used as a vibrating structure. Combined finite element method (FEM) and boundary element method (BEM) models of the apparatus were used to predict the noise level radiated from the box. The FEM was used to predict the vibration, while the BEM was used to predict the sound intensity and total radiated sound power using surface vibration as the input data. Vibration predicted by the FEM model was validated by experimental modal analysis, noise predicted by the BEM was validated by measurements of sound intensity. Three types of results are presented for the total radiated sound power: (1) sound power predicted by the BEM model using vibration data measured on the surface of the box: (2) sound power predicted by the FEM/BEM model; and (3) sound power measured by an acoustic intensity scan. In the third part, the structure used in part two was modified. A rib was attached to the top plate of the structure. The FEM and BEM were then used to predict structural vibration and radiated noise respectively. (MM)

This paper is an overview of the main ideas of the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM). We present the basic results, experiences with, and potentials of this method. The GFEM is a generalization of the classical Finite Element Method in its h, p, and h-p versions as well as of the various forms of meshless methods used in engineering.

Interest here is in finite element discretizations of problems involving an incompressibility condition. As model problems we consider the Stokes equations for the flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid and the equations of linear plane-strain elasticity for the deformation of an isotropic, nearly incompressible solid. In both cases the incompressibility condition takes the form of a divergence constraint. Although this is the most simple formulation, the proper understanding of how an approximate method satisfies the constraint represents an important step towards the understanding of more complicated situations, involving e.g. the Navier-Stokes equations or the equations of nonlinear elasticity. The finite element methods we study have the property that the approximations to the velocities, respectively to the displacements, are continuous; such methods are generally referred to as conforming.

Substantial results on the use of mixed finite element methods for partial differential eigenvalue problems and for viscous flow problems have been achieved. Both analytical and computational studies have been carried out. The analytical work is concerned with error estimates for the finite element approximations, while the computational efforts consist of implementing these finite element algorithms. (Author)

A rational function is presented for approximating the function f(z) = coth z - 1/z that appears in several exponentially fitted or weighted finite difference and finite element methods for convection-diffusion problems. The approximation is less expensive to evaluate than f(z) and provides greater accuracy than the doubly asymptotic approximation when z = 0(1).

The goal of this work is to illustrate the application of the nonvariational finite element method to a specific Monge--Amp\`ere type nonlinear partial differential equation. The equation we consider is that of prescribed Gauss curvature.

A hyperbolic integro-differential equation is considered, as a model problem, where the convolution kernel is assumed to be either smooth or no worse than weakly singular. Well-posedness of the problem is studied in the context of semigroup of linear operators, and regularity of any order is proved for smooth kernels. Energy method is used to prove optimal order a priori error estimates for the finite element spatial semidiscrete problem. A continuous space-time finite element method of order one is formulated for the problem. Stability of the discrete dual problem is proved, that is used to obtain optimal order a priori estimates via duality arguments. The theory is illustrated by an example.

Elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs) with discontinuous diffusion coefficients occur in application domains such as diffusions through porous media, electro-magnetic field propagation on heterogeneous media, and diffusion processes on rough surfaces. The standard approach to numerically treating such problems using finite element methods is to assume that the discontinuities lie on the boundaries of the cells in the initial triangulation. However, this does not match applications where discontinuities occur on curves, surfaces, or manifolds, and could even be unknown beforehand. One of the obstacles to treating such discontinuity problems is that the usual perturbation theory for elliptic PDEs assumes bounds for the distortion of the coefficients in the $L_\infty$ norm and this in turn requires that the discontinuities are matched exactly when the coefficients are approximated. We present a new approach based on distortion of the coefficients in an $L_q$ norm with $q

This paper introduces a new weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method for second order elliptic equations on polytopal meshes. This method, called WG-FEM, is designed by using a discrete weak gradient operator applied to discontinuous piecewise polynomials on finite element partitions of arbitrary polytopes with certain shape regularity. The paper explains how the numerical schemes are designed and why they provide reliable numerical approximations for the underlying partial differential equations. In particular, optimal order error estimates are established for the corresponding WG-FEM approximations in both a discrete $H^1$ norm and the standard $L^2$ norm. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the robustness, reliability, and accuracy of the WG-FEM. All the results are derived for finite element partitions with polytopes. Allowing the use of discontinuous approximating functions on arbitrary polytopal elements is a highly demanded feature for numerical algorithms in scientific computing.

This paper introduces a new weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method for second order elliptic equations on polytopal meshes. This method, called WG-FEM, is designed by using a discrete weak gradient operator applied to discontinuous piecewise polynomials on finite element partitions of arbitrary polytopes with certain shape regularity. The paper explains how the numerical schemes are designed and why they provide reliable numerical approximations for the underlying partial differential equations. In particular, optimal order error estimates are established for the corresponding WG-FEM approximations in both a discrete $H^1$ norm and the standard $L^2$ norm. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the robustness, reliability, and accuracy of the WG-FEM. All the results are derived for finite element partitions with polytopes. Allowing the use of discontinuous approximating functions on arbitrary polytopal elements is a highly demanded feature for numerical algorithms in scientific computing.

Studies on applications of the finite element approach to transonic flow calculations are reported. Different discretization techniques of the differential equations and boundary conditions are compared. Finite element analogs of Murman's mixed type finite difference operators for small disturbance formulations were constructed and the time dependent approach (using finite differences in time and finite elements in space) was examined.

The notion of a generalized finite element method is introduced. This class of methods is analyzed and their relation to mixed methods is discussed. The class of generalized finite element methods offers a wide variety of computational procedures from which particular procedures can be selected for particular problems. A particular generalized finite element method which is very effective for problems with rough coefficients is discussed in detail. (Author)

Principles for the selection of a finite element method for a particular problem are discussed. These principles are stated in terms of the notion of approximability, optimality, and stability. Several examples are discussed in detail as illustrations. Conclusions regarding the selection of finite element methods are summarized in the final section of the paper.

This paper is concerned with finite element approximations of $W^{2,p}$ strong solutions of second-order linear elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs) in non-divergence form with continuous coefficients. A nonstandard (primal) finite element method, which uses finite-dimensional subspaces consisting globally continuous piecewise polynomial functions, is proposed and analyzed. The main novelty of the finite element method is to introduce an interior penalty term, which penalizes the jump of the flux across the interior element edges/faces, to augment a nonsymmetric piecewise defined and PDE-induced bilinear form. Existence, uniqueness and error estimate in a discrete $W^{2,p}$ energy norm are proved for the proposed finite element method. This is achieved by establishing a discrete Calderon-Zygmund-type estimate and mimicking strong solution PDE techniques at the discrete level. Numerical experiments are provided to test the performance of proposed finite element method and to validate the convergence theory.

In this paper, we consider local multiscale model reduction for problems with multiple scales in space and time. We developed our approaches within the framework of the Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) using space-time coarse cells. The main idea of GMsFEM is to construct a local snapshot space and a local spectral decomposition in the snapshot space. Previous research in developing multiscale spaces within GMsFEM focused on constructing multiscale spaces and relevant ingredients in space only. In this paper, our main objective is to develop a multiscale model reduction framework within GMsFEM that uses space-time coarse cells. We construct space-time snapshot and offline spaces. We compute these snapshot solutions by solving local problems. A complete snapshot space will use all possible boundary conditions; however, this can be very expensive. We propose using randomized boundary conditions and oversampling. We construct the local spectral decomposition based on our analysis, as presented in the paper. We present numerical results to confirm our theoretical findings and to show that using our proposed approaches, we can obtain an accurate solution with low dimensional coarse spaces. We remark that the proposed method is a significant extension compared to existing methods, which use coarse cells in space only because of (1) the parabolic nature of cell solutions, (2) extra degrees of freedom associated with space-time cells, and (3) local boundary conditions in space-time cells.

We construct and analyze a preconditioner of the linear elastiity system discretized by conforming linear finite elements in the framework of the auxiliary space method. The auxiliary space preconditioner is based on discretization of a scalar elliptic equation with Generalized Finite Element Method.

A rational function is presented for approximating the function f(z) = coth z - 1/z that appears in several exponentially fitted or weighted finite difference and finite element methods for convection-diffusion problems. The approximation is less expensive to evaluate than f(z) and provides greater accuracy than the doubly asymptotic approximation when z = 0(1).

A new weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method is introduced and analyzed in this paper for the biharmonic equation in its primary form. This method is highly robust and flexible in the element construction by using discontinuous piecewise polynomials on general finite element partitions consisting of polygons or polyhedra of arbitrary shape. The resulting WG finite element formulation is symmetric, positive definite, and parameter-free. Optimal order error estimates in a discrete $H^2$ norm is established for the corresponding WG finite element solutions. Error estimates in the usual $L^2$ norm are also derived, yielding a sub-optimal order of convergence for the lowest order element and an optimal order of convergence for all high order of elements. Numerical results are presented to confirm the theory of convergence under suitable regularity assumptions.

In this paper, we give a new type of a posteriori error estimators suitable for moving finite element methods under anisotropic meshes for general second-order elliptic problems. The computation of estimators is simple once corresponding Hessian matrix is recovered. Wonderful efficiency indices are shown in numerical experiments.

Integral equation methods have generally been the workhorse for antenna and scattering computations. In the case of antennas, they continue to be the prominent computational approach, but for scattering applications the requirement for large-scale computations has turned researchers' attention to near neighbor methods such as the finite element method, which has low O(N) storage requirements and is readily adaptable in modeling complex geometrical features and material inhomogeneities. In this paper, we review three hybrid finite element methods for simulating composite scatterers, conformal microstrip antennas, and finite periodic arrays. Specifically, we discuss the finite element method and its application to electromagnetic problems when combined with the boundary integral, absorbing boundary conditions, and artificial absorbers for terminating the mesh. Particular attention is given to large-scale simulations, methods, and solvers for achieving low memory requirements and code performance on parallel computing architectures.

One of the primary goals in this dissertation is concerned with the development of robust hybrid finite element-boundary integral (FE-BI) techniques for modeling and design of conformal antennas of arbitrary shape. Both the finite element and integral equation methods will be first overviewed in this chapter with an emphasis on recently developed hybrid FE-BI methodologies for antennas, microwave and millimeter wave applications. The structure of the dissertation is then outlined. We conclude the chapter with discussions of certain fundamental concepts and methods in electromagnetics, which are important to this study.

Over the past few years finite element based procedures for the solution of high speed viscous compressible flows were developed. The objective of this research is to build upon the finite element concepts which have already been demonstrated and to develop these ideas to produce a method which is applicable to the solution of large scale practical problems. The problems of interest range from three dimensional full vehicle Euler simulations to local analysis of three-dimensional viscous laminar flow. Transient Euler flow simulations involving moving bodies are also to be included. An important feature of the research is to be the coupling of the flow solution methods with thermal/structural modeling techniques to provide an integrated fluid/thermal/structural modeling capability. The progress made towards achieving these goals during the first twelve month period of the research is presented.

Book Source: Digital Library of India Item 2015.193316 dc.contributor.author: Amiya Kumar Pani dc.date.accessioned: 2015-07-08T02:30:55Z dc.date.available: 2015-07-08T02:30:55Z dc.date.digitalpublicationdate: 2005-08-27 dc.identifier.barcode: 1990010086728 dc.identifier.origpath: /rawdataupload/upload/0086/728 dc.identifier.copyno: 1 dc.identifier.uri: http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/193316 dc.description.scannerno: 14 dc.description.scanningcentre: IIIT, Allahabad dc.description.main: 1 dc.description.tagged: 0 dc.description.totalpages: 180 dc.format.mimetype: application/pdf dc.language.iso: English dc.publisher: Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur dc.rights: Out_of_copyright dc.source.library: Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur dc.subject.classification: Technology dc.subject.classification: Engineering. Technology In General dc.subject.classification: Mechanical Engineering In General. Nuclear Technology. Electrical Engineering. Machinery dc.title: Finite Element Methods For Nonlinear Free Boundary Problems

At the start, three and a half years ago, the finite fluid element method (Section 1) was the only one under consideration. Things went badly with that method, and progress with its implementation went far more slowly than we ever anticipated. As a result, by the end of the first year, a second method, which originally was developed for a check on results of the first, had become by far the more promising of the two. Most of this report (Sections 3-6) describes progress we have made with the application of biased differences (Section 2) to a variety of fairly difficult problems of numerical fluid mechanics. Finally, in the last six months of the period covered by this report, the major difficulties with finite fluid elements were overcome, so it became possible to begin a comparison of the two methods (Section 6). Preliminary indications are that both methods are reliable, and both are considerably more efficient than a third method with which they have been compared. Section 7 is a report of progress with a boundary integral method that is not closely related to the others except by being numerical, and Section 8 is a description of the kinds of graphical software we had to develop for interpretation of our numerical computations.

At the start, three and a half years ago, the finite fluid element method (Section 1) was the only one under consideration. Things went badly with that method, and progress with its implementation went far more slowly than we ever anticipated. As a result, by the end of the first year, a second method, which originally was developed for a check on results of the first, had become by far the more promising of the two. Most of this report (Sections 3-6) describes progress we have made with the application of biased differences (Section 2) to a variety of fairly difficult problems of numerical fluid mechanics. Finally, in the last six months of the period covered by this report, the major difficulties with finite fluid elements were overcome, so it became possible to begin a comparison of the two methods (Section 6). Preliminary indications are that both methods are reliable, and both are considerably more efficient than a third method with which they have been compared. Section 7 is a report of progress with a boundary integral method that is not closely related to the others except by being numerical, and Section 8 is a description of the kinds of graphical software we had to develop for interpretation of our numerical computations.

Numerical methods based on unstructured grids, with irregular cells, frequently require discrete shape functions to approximate the distribution of quantities across cells. For control-volume mixed finite-element methods, vector shape functions are used to approximate the distribution of velocities across cells. Previous, two-dimensional developments used linear shape functions to interpolate velocities within a quadrilateral cell. For irregular hexahedral cells in three dimensions, it can be shown that linear shape functions cannot exactly represent the flux distribution across a cell under uniform flow conditions. As a result, uniform flow cannot be exactly simulated. A new vector shape function is proposed for use with irregular hexahedral cells that should provide for a more accurate velocity approximation within a cell. This velocity shape function is a non-linear interpolator, containing quadratic terms.

A new approach to a posteriori error estimation is outlined which is applicable to general h-p finite element approximations of general classes of boundary value problems. The approach makes use of duality arguments and is based on the element residual method (ERM). Important aspects of the method are that it provides a systematic approach toward deriving element boundary conditions for the ERM; it leads to an upper bound for the global error in an appropriate energy norm; and it is valid for non-uniform and irregular h-p meshes. In the present exposition, a brief outline of the theoretical foundations of the method is given together with the results of its application to several representative problems. These results show that the approach is applicable to general linearly elliptic systems, including unsymmetrical operators, and that the method is valid for broad classes of linear and non- linear problems.

We consider a two-stage numerical procedure for imaging of objects buried in dry sand using time-dependent backscattering experimental radar measurements. These measurements are generated by a single point source of electric pulses and are collected using a microwave scattering facility which was built at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Our imaging problem is formulated as the inverse problem of the reconstruction of the spatially distributed dielectric permittivity $\varepsilon_\mathrm{r}\left(\mathbf{x}\right), \ \mathbf{x}\in \mathbb{R}^{3}$, which is an unknown coefficient in Maxwell's equations. On the first stage an approximately globally convergent method is applied to get a good first approximation for the exact solution. On the second stage a local adaptive finite element method is applied to refine the solution obtained on the first stage. The two-stage numerical procedure results in accurate imaging of all three components of interest of targets: shapes, locations and refractive indices. In this paper we briefly describe methods and present new reconstruction results for both stages.

For a family of stabilized mixed finite element methods for the Stokes equations a complete a priori and a posteriori error analysis is given.

This study examines various computational techniques to analyze dynamic response and failure of sandwich composite materials subject to fluid-structure interaction characterized by an acoustic field or the propagation of velocity potential according to the wave equation. A displacement-only plate finite element is developed and implemented using Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methodology; its accuracy compares favorably to both theory and Continuous Galerkin methods. Several approaches to analyzing debonding failure between skin and core layers of sandwich com-posite structures are demonstrated and evaluated; partial disconnection between neighboring elements at a debonding site shows good qualitative agreement with known physical phenomena. A hybrid Finite Element-Cellular Automata (FE+CA) approach to modeling an acoustic field with non-reflecting boundary conditions is presented, validated nu-merically, and favorably compared with experimental results. The FE+CA fluid model is then combined with the DG structural model to simulate fluid-structure interaction; this combined model compared favorably with experimental results for the strain field of laminated plates subject to low-velocity impact. Each technique addressed shows promise for flexible and accurate modeling of failure initiation and propagation in sandwich and laminate composites subject to fluid-structure interaction with moderate computational costs.

Finite element and finite difference methods are examined in order to bring out their relationship. It is shown that both methods use two types of discrete representations of continuous functions. They differ in that finite difference methods emphasize the discretization of independent variable, while finite element methods emphasize the discretization of dependent variable (referred to as functional approximations). An important point is that finite element methods use global piecewise functional approximations, while finite difference methods normally use local functional approximations. A general conclusion is that finite element methods are best designed to handle complex boundaries, while finite difference methods are superior for complex equations. It is also shown that finite volume difference methods possess many of the advantages attributed to finite element methods.

Even though random partial differential equations (PDEs) have become a very active field of research, the analysis and numerical analysis of random PDEs on surfaces still appears to be in its infancy (see, however~\cite{Dj}). In this paper, we introduce and analyse a surface finite element discretization of advection-diffusion equations with uncertain coefficients on evolving hypersurfaces. After stating unique solvability of the resulting semi-discrete problem, we prove optimal error bounds for the semi-discrete solution and Monte Carlo samplings of its expectation in appropriate Bochner spaces. Our theoretical findings are illustrated by numerical experiments in two and three space dimensions.

Mathematical models based on the finite element method of structural analysis, as embodied in the NASTRAN computer code, are routinely used by the helicopter industry to calculate airframe static internal loads used for sizing structural members. Historically, less reliance has been placed on the vibration predictions based on these models. Beginning in the early 1980's NASA's Langley Research Center initiated an industry wide program with the objective of engendering the needed trust in vibration predictions using these models and establishing a body of modeling guides which would enable confident future prediction of airframe vibration as part of the regular design process. Emphasis in this paper is placed on the successful modeling of the Army/Boeing CH-47D which showed reasonable correlation with test data. A principal finding indicates that improved dynamic analysis requires greater attention to detail and perhaps a finer mesh, especially the mass distribution, than the usual stress model. Post program modeling efforts show improved correlation placing key modal frequencies in the b/rev range with 4 percent of the test frequencies.