Numerical Analysis Archives for Fall 2019 to Spring 2020
Convergent numerical methods for the second boundary value problem for the Monge-Ampere equation
When: Tue, August 28, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Brittany Froese Hamfeldt (New Jersey Institute of Technology) - https://web.njit.edu/~bdfroese/
Abstract: It is well known that the quadratic-cost optimal transportation problem is formally equivalent to the Monge-Ampere equation, a fully nonlinear elliptic PDE. Instead of a traditional boundary condition, the PDE is equipped with a global constraint on the solution gradient, which constrains the transport of mass. Recently, several numerical methods have been proposed for this problem, but no convergence proofs are available. Viscosity solutions have become a powerful tool for analyzing methods for fully nonlinear elliptic equations. However, existing convergence frameworks for viscosity solutions are not valid for this problem. We introduce an alternative PDE that couples the usual Monge-Ampere equation to a Hamilton-Jacobi equation that restricts the transportation of mass. Using this reformulation, we develop a framework for
proving convergence of a large class of approximation schemes for the optimal transport problem. We describe several examples of convergent schemes, as well as possible extensions to more general optimal transportation problems.
Fast solvers for optimal control problems constrained by PDEs with uncertain inputs.
When: Tue, September 4, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Akwum Onwunta (Computer Science Department, University of Maryland, College Park) -
Abstract: Optimization problems constrained by deterministic steady-state partial differential equations (PDEs) are computationally challenging. This is even more so if the constraints are deterministic unsteady PDEs since one would then need to solve a system of PDEs coupled globally in time and space, and time-stepping methods quickly reach their limitations due to the enormous demand for storage. Yet more challenging are problems constrained by unsteady PDEs involving (countably many) parametric or uncertain inputs. A viable solution approach to optimization problems with stochastic constraints employs the spectral stochastic Galerkin finite element method (SGFEM). However, the SGFEM often leads to the so-called curse of dimensionality, in the sense that it results in prohibitively high-dimensional linear systems with tensor product structure. Moreover, a typical model for an optimal control problem with stochastic inputs (OCPS) will usually be used for the quantification of the statistics of the system response – a task that could in turn result in additional enormous computational expense. In this talk, we consider two prototypical model OCPS and discretize them with SGFEM. We exploit the underlying mathematical structure of the discretized systems at the heart of the optimization routine to derive and analyze low-rank iterative solvers and robust block-diagonal preconditioners for solving the resulting stochastic Galerkin systems. The developed solvers are efficient in the reduction of temporal and storage requirements of the high-dimensional linear systems. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of our solvers with numerical experiments.
Smooth random functions and smooth random ODEs [Aziz Lecture]
When: Wed, September 12, 2018 - 3:15pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Lloyd N. Trefethen (Oxford University Mathematical Institute) - https://people.maths.ox.ac.uk/trefethen/
Abstract: What is a random function? What is noise? The standard answers are nonsmooth, defined pointwise via the Wiener process and Brownian motion. In the Chebfun project, we have found it more natural to work with smooth random functions defined by finite Fourier series with random coefficients. The length of the series is determined by a wavelength parameter lambda. Integrals give smooth random walks, which approach Brownian paths as lambda shrinks to 0, and smooth random ODEs, which approach stochastic DEs of the Stratonovich variety. Numerical explorations become very easy in this framework. There are plenty of conceptual challenges in this subject, starting with the fact that white noise has infinite amplitude and infinite energy, a paradox that goes back in two different ways to Einstein in 1905.
Cubature, approximation, and isotropy in the hypercube [Appl. Math. Colloquium]
When: Thu, September 13, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Lloyd N. Trefethen (Oxford University Mathematical Institute) - https://people.maths.ox.ac.uk/trefethen/
Abstract: The hypercube is the standard domain for computation in higher dimensions. We describe two respects in which the anisotropy of this domain has practical consequences. The first is a matter well known to experts: the importance of axis-alignment in low-rank compression of multivariate functions. Rotating a function by a few degrees in two or more dimensions may change its numerical rank completely. The second is new. The standard notion of degree of a multivariate polynomial, total degree, is isotropic -- invariant under rotation. The hypercube, however, is highly anisotropic. We present a theorem showing that as a consequence, the convergence rate of multivariate polynomial approximations in a hypercube is determined not by the total degree but by the Euclidean degree, defined in terms of not the 1-norm but the 2-norm of the vector of exponents.
Simulation of fire phenomena around complex geometries in the Fire Dynamics Simulator
When: Tue, September 18, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Chem 1402
Speaker: Marcos Vanella (George Washington University and National Institute of Standards and Technology) - https://www.nist.gov/people/marcos-vanella
Abstract: The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) is a simulation software developed at the Fire Research Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Over the years it has become one of the industry preferred tools for simulation of fire scenarios in design of fire protection systems in buildings and civil structures, forensic studies and wildland fires, among others. At its core, FDS is a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) solver of the Low Mach approximation for thermally driven buoyant flows, employing standard discretization schemes on structured meshes. Traditionally, grid conforming “lego block” geometries are added to describe obstacles within the simulation domain. This talk will discuss our work implementing the capability to simulate fire scenarios around more complex geometries, defined by surface triangulations that don’t conform to the fluid grid, within FDS. Model equations, numerical discretization and implementation on a parallel computing setting using continuous integration will be discussed. Ongoing verification and validation work will be presented. Directions and challenges on this particular development, as well as other FDS simulation areas will be considered.
Computational science challenges in stellarator magnetic confinement
When: Tue, September 25, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Matt Landreman (IREAP - University of Maryland) - https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~mattland/
Abstract: A stellarator is a magnetic field configuration for confining charged particles, and stellarators such as the new W7-X experiment have successfully confined plasmas at temperatures exceeding those of the sun's core, relevant for fusion energy. Stellarator design and modeling present numerous computational science challenges. For instance, numerical shape optimization is critical for designing the shaping of the magnetic field and the electromagnetic coils that produce it. Shape optimization concepts can also inform the tolerances to which stellarators must be built. Furthermore, modeling of the plasma confined in a stellarator requires the numerical solution of high-dimensional advection dominated kinetic equations. In this talk, several such topics will be presented in which computational advances could contribute significantly to future stellarator experiments.
Modeling and Simulation of Asteroid-Generated Tsunamis [Math Colloquium]
When: Wed, October 3, 2018 - 3:15pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Marsha Berger (NYU) - https://cs.nyu.edu/berger/
Abstract: Four years ago, an asteroid with a 20 meter diameter exploded in the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia, causing injury and damage 20 kilometers away but no deaths. We are studying the question of what would occur if such an airburst happened over the ocean. Would the blast wave generate a tsunami that could threaten coastal cities far away?
We begin with several simulations of tsunami propagation from asteroid-generated airbursts under a range of conditions. We use the open source software package GeoClaw, which has been successful in modeling earthquake-generated tsunamis. GeoClaw uses a basic model of ocean waves called the shallow water equations (SWE). We then present a simplified one dimensional model problem with an explicit solution in closed form to understand some of the unexpected results.
The SWE model however may not be accurate enough for airburst-generated tsunamis, which have shorter length and time scales than earthquake-generated waves. We extend our model problem to the linearized Euler equations of fluid mechanics to explore the effects of wave dispersion and water compressibility. We end with a discussion of suitable models for airburst-generated tsunamis, and speculate as to appropriate tools to study the more serious case of an asteroid that impacts the water.
Decoupled and augmented formulations for electromagnetic scattering
When: Tue, October 9, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Felipe Vico (Universitat Politècnica de València) - http://www.iteam.upv.es/author/fevibon/
Abstract: We present different numerical techniques for solving electromagnetic scattering problems of perfect electric conductors and piecewise homogeneous dielectrics using integral equation methods. In the case of penetrable objects, we use a new constrain-free vector Helmholtz-like partial differential equation that is equivalent to the Maxwell equations. In the case of perfect electric conductors, we have developed a new formulation in terms of well-posed boundary value problems for the vector and scalar potential. In both cases, this approach leads naturally to well-conditioned Fredholm integral equations.
The ICDD (Interface Control Domain Decomposition) method for the solution of Multiphysics problems [Appl. Math. Colloquium - special seminar]
When: Tue, October 16, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Alfio Quarteroni (Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy and EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland) - https://cmcs.epfl.ch/people/quarteroni
Abstract: Interface Control Domain Decomposition (ICDD) is a method designed to address partial differential equations (PDEs) in computational regions split into overlapping subdomains. The “interface controls” are unknown functions used as Dirichlet boundary data on the subdomain interfaces that are obtained by solving an optimal control problem with boundary observation. When the ICDD method is applied to classical (homogeneous) elliptic equations, it can be regarded as (yet) another domain decomposition method to solve elliptic problems. However, what makes it interesting is its convergence rate that is grid independent, its robustness with respect to the possible variation of operator coefficients, and the possibility to use non-matching grids and non-conforming discretizations inside different subdomains.
ICDD methods become especially attractive when applied to solve heterogeneous PDEs (like those occurring in multi-physics problems). A noticeable example is provided by the coupling between (Navier) Stokes and Darcy equations, with application to surface-subsurface flows, or to the coupling of blood flow in large arteries and the fluid flow in the arterial wall. In this case, the minimization problem set on the interface control variables, that is enforced by ICDD method, can in principle assure the correct matching between the two “different physics” without requiring the a-priori determination of the transmission conditions at their interface.
Geometric errors in surface finite element methods
When: Tue, October 23, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Alan Demlow (Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University) - http://www.math.tamu.edu/~demlow/
Abstract: Surface finite element methods are commonly used to approximate solutions to the Laplace-Beltrami problem posed on surfaces. These methods generally employ two levels of approximation. One is the Galerkin approximation typical of finite element methods, and the other is a polynomial approximation of the surface on which the PDE is posed. Errors due to the latter approximation are called geometric errors. Geometric errors generally exhibit a consistent order of convergence with respect to the polynomial degree of the approximation in a wide variety of situations. In this talk we will focus on two recently discovered situations in which the geometric error has more subtle behavior. These are eigenvalue problems and a posteriori error estimation. In both of these cases, the particular way in which the discrete surface is constructed or represented in codes affects the order of the geometric error. Time permitting, we may also briefly discuss geometric errors in problems involving vector Laplace-type surface operators, such as the surface Stokes equations.
Exploiting Multiprecision Arithmetic
When: Tue, October 30, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Nicholas J. Higham ( School of Mathematics - Manchester University) - http://www.maths.manchester.ac.uk/~higham/
Abstract: There is a growing availability of multiprecision arithmetic: floating point arithmetic in multiple, possibly arbitrary, precisions. Demand in applications includes for both low precision (deep learning and climate modelling) and high precision (long-term simulations and solving very ill conditioned problems). We discuss
- Half-precision arithmetic: its characteristics, availability, attractions, pitfalls, and rounding error analysis implications.
- Quadruple precision arithmetic: the need for it in applications, its cost, and how to exploit it.
As an example of the use of multiple precisions we discuss iterative refinement for solving linear systems. We explain the benefits of combining three different precisions of arithmetic (say, half, single, and double) and show how a new form of preconditioned iterative refinement can be used to solve very ill conditioned sparse linear systems to high accuracy.
A fictitious domain approach for fluid-structure interaction problems [joint NA-CSCAMM seminar]
When: Wed, October 31, 2018 - 2:00pmWhere: 4122 CSIC Bldg
Speaker: Daniele Boffi (Dipartimento di Matematica - University di Pavia) - https://www-dimat.unipv.it/boffi/
Abstract: We discuss a distributed Lagrange multiplier formulation of the Finite Element Immersed Boundary Method for the numerical approximation of the interaction between fluids and solids. The discretization of the problem leads to a mixed problem for which a rigorous stability analysis is provided. Optimal convergence estimates are proved for the finite element space discretization. The model, originally introduced for the coupling of incompressible fluids and solids, can be extended to include the simulation of compressible structures.
Trefftz methods for transport equations with boundary layers
When: Tue, November 6, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Bruno Depres (J.L. Lions Laboratory - University Paris VI ) - https://www.ljll.math.upmc.fr/despres/
Abstract: Trefftz methods can be used for the numerical discretization of problems with increasing complexity. In this presentation, we will consider angular approximations of transport equations (linear Boltzman equations with stiff coefficients), and Friedrichs systems with stiff relaxation, often encountered for in neutron propagation and transfer equations.
It appears that Trefftz methods provide a natural way to define numerical methods with genuine balance between the differential part and the relaxation part. These methods are naturally written in the context of Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods, and so are called Trefftz Discontinuous Galerkin (TDG) methods.
I will report on the construction of the method, numerical estimates of convergence (h-convergence) and excellent behavior for boundary layers. It certain cases, the numerical accuracy of TDG just outperform more traditional polynomial based DG.
Rigorous and Scalable Approaches for Data-Driven PDE-constrained Bayesian Inverse Problems
When: Tue, November 13, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Tan Bui (University of Texas at Austin) - http://users.ices.utexas.edu/~tanbui/
Abstract: Inverse problems are pervasive in cyberinfrastructure research, especially in scientific discovery and decision-making for complex, natural, engineered, and societal systems. They are perhaps the most popular mathematical approaches for enabling predictive scientific simulations that integrate observational/experimental data, simulations and/or models. For inverse problems that serve as a basis for design, control, discovery, and decision-making, their solutions must be equipped with the degree of confidence. In other words, we have to quantify the uncertainty in the solution due to observational noise, discretization errors,model inadequacy, etc.
We choose to quantify the uncertainty in the inverse solution using the Bayesian framework. This approach is appealing since it can incorporate most, if not all, uncertainties in a systematic manner. Unfortunately, inverse/UQ problems for practical complex systems possess three challenges simultaneously, namely, the large-scale forward problem challenge, the high dimensional parameter space challenge, and the big data challenge. This talk presents multi-facet computationally-efficient methods to tackle these challenges simultaneously. Rigorous theoretical results and extensive numerical results for various applications including geophysical inversion and inverse electromagnetic wave scattering will be presented.
Numerical methods for diffusion problems with high-contrast inclusions
When: Thu, November 15, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Yuri Kuznetsov (Department of Mathematics - University of Houston) - https://www.math.uh.edu/~kuz/
Abstract: In this presentation, we propose and investigate a new approach to the numerical solution of diffusion problems in heterogeneous media with high-contrast inclusions. Instead of the classical variational formulation of the problem we consider an equivalent weak saddle-point formulation with a set of small parameters. For the asymptotic expansion of the solution we derive a simple convergence condition and the underlying error estimates. We also investigate the problem in the framework of the P1 finite element method. Theoretical conclusions are confirmed by numerical results with large number of regular shaped inclusions.
An Introduction to Virtual Elements in 3D
When: Tue, November 27, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Lourenco Beirao da Veiga (Università di Milano-Bicocca) - http://www.matapp.unimib.it/~beirao/
Abstract: The Virtual Element Method (VEM), is a very recent technology introduced in [Beirao da Veiga, Brezzi, Cangiani, Manzini, Marini, Russo, 2013, M3AS] for the discretization of partial differential equations, that has shared a good success in recent years. The VEM can be interpreted as a generalization of the Finite Element Method that allows to use general polygonal and polyhedral meshes, still keeping the same coding complexity and allowing for arbitrary degree of accuracy. In addition to the possibility to handle general polytopal meshes, the flexibility of the above construction yields other interesting properties with respect to more standard Galerkin methods. For instance, the VEM easily allows to build discrete spaces of arbitrary C^k regularity, or to satisfy exactly the divergence-free constraint for incompressible fluids.
The present talk is an introduction to the VEM, aiming at showing the main ideas of the method. We consider for simplicity a simple elliptic model problem but set ourselves in the more involved 3D setting. In the first part we introduce the adopted Virtual Element space and the associated degrees of freedom, first by addressing the faces of the polyhedrons (i.e. polygons) and then building the space in the full volumes. We then describe the construction of the discrete bilinear form and the ensuing discretization of the problem. Furthermore, we show a set of theoretical and numerical results. In the very final part, we will give a glance at a pair of more involved problems.
Adaptive hp-AFEM for eigenvalue computations
When: Tue, December 4, 2018 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Claudio Canuto (Politecnico di Torino) - http://calvino.polito.it/~ccanuto/
Abstract: Building on a recently proposed framework for the study of hp-adaptive discretizations of elliptic boundary-value problems with given forcing term, we investigate the hp-adaptive approximation of eigenvalue problems. We design an iterative procedure for computing a selected eigenvalue and its eigenspace, which at each step generates a near-optimal hp-mesh for the current level of accuracy; such mesh is then sufficiently refined to produce a new, enhanced approximation of the eigenspace. We identify conditions on the initial mesh and the operator coefficients under which the procedure yields approximations that converge at a geometric rate independent of any discretization parameter, while growing the number of degrees of freedom in a way comparable to the optimal number for the attained accuracy. The error reduction is based on a Doerfler-type marking, which uses a computable p-robust equilibrated-flux estimator. For such estimator, we establish a saturation result which implies a contraction property for the eigenfunction error in the energy norm.
Generalized Plane Waves & Maxwell's equations
When: Tue, January 29, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Lise-Marie Imbert-Gerard (Department of Mathematics, CSCAMM, IPST - University of Maryland, College Park) - http://www2.cscamm.umd.edu/~lmig/
Abstract: Modeling for wave propagation in magnetically confined plasma motivates the development of numerical methods for smooth variable coefficient time-harmonic Maxwell's equations. The simplest of these models, the cold plasma model, reads curl curl E - (w/c)2 epsilon E = 0 where the tensor epsilon is both homogeneous and anisotropic. Generalized Plane Waves (GPWs) are then introduced in the 2D variable refractive index Helmholtz framework. These functions are constructed to satisfy approximately the PDE, and a set of linearly independent can easily be constructed for discretization purposes. They are designed as exponential of polynomials, using Taylor expansions. The first extension of the GPW construction to the 3D vector-valued Maxwell's equation is introduced, specifying a particular ansatz for the amplitude and phase functions, and emphasizing the challenges related to the construction algorithm.
Efficient Analytical and Numerical Treatment of High Contrast Composites
When: Tue, February 5, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Yuliya Gorb (Department of Mathematics - University of Houston) - https://www.math.uh.edu/~gorb/about.html
Abstract: This talk reviews numerical and asymptotic analysis methods for models that describe heterogeneous or composite materials. In particular, we focus on high contrast two-phase dispersed composites that are described by PDEs with rough coefficients, e.g. the case of highly conducting particles that are distributed in the matrix of finite conductivity. In our numerical studies, we assume that particles are located at distances comparable with their sizes, while in our asymptotic methods, we consider densely packed composites where particles are almost touching one another. The proposed numerical procedure yields robust iterative methods whose numbers of iterations are independent of the contrast parameter and the discretization scale. Discrete models constructed using our asymptotic procedures are used for capturing and characterizing of various blow-up phenomena that occur in dense high contrast materials.
Computational mathematics: from wave-structure interaction to fusion reactors
When: Tue, February 12, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Tonatiuh Sanchez Vizuet (Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences - New York University) - https://cims.nyu.edu/~tonatiuh/
Abstract: The first half of the talk will be devoted to the problem of time-domain wave scattering by elastic obstacles. In this situation, part of the incident wave is scattered off the obstacle and part of it excites a perturbation that propagates throughout it according to its physical properties. From the mathematical point of view, this results in two equations coupled through transmission conditions at the interface of the solid. In order to deal efficiently with the scattered wave in the unbounded domain, I will propose a formulation coupling boundary integral equations at the interface with partial differential equations inside the scatterer. To exemplify the analysis I will consider the case of a linear elastic body and will show extensions to bodies with more complex physical properties.
The second part of the talk pertains an application coming from plasma physics. In axially symmetric confinement devices, the equilibrium between the magnetic and hydrostatic forces can be formulated in terms of a semilinear elliptic equation for a scalar potential posed in a curved domain. For this problem we have proposed a high order adaptive solver based on the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method. The solver allows to approximate the solution without the need of curved elements by using an un-fitted embedded mesh and a transfer technique that preserves the order of convergence . I will present a brief description of the hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin method and an overview of the solution strategy.
This work has been done in collaboration with Antoine Cerfon (New York University), George Hsiao and Francisco-Javier Sayas (University of Delaware), and Manuel Solano (Universidad de Concepción).
Finite elements for fractional diffusion: towards nonlinear problems
When: Tue, February 19, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Juan Pablo Borthagaray (Department of Mathematics - University of Maryland, College Park) - http://math.umd.edu/~jpb/
Abstract: In this talk, we consider problems involving the integral fractional Laplacian on bounded domains. The integral fractional Laplacian is a nonlocal operator that involves a hypersingular kernel; suitable quadrature is required to handle such a singularity. Nonlocality originates additional difficulties, such as the need to deal with integration on unbounded domains and full stiffness matrices. Furthermore, independently of the smoothness of the domain and the data, solutions to the problems under consideration possess a limited Sobolev regularity.
The first part of the talk is devoted to the analysis of the homogeneous Dirichlet problem: we discuss regularity of solutions and study the convergence of finite element schemes. Afterwards, we discuss two nonlinear problems: the fractional obstacle problem and the computation of nonlocal minimal surfaces.
Some iterative methods to efficiently solve Helmholtz equation
When: Tue, February 26, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Yassine Boubendir (New Jersey Institute of Technology) -
Abstract: This talk is divided into two parts. The first one focuses on iterative algorithms obtained by applying non-overlapping domain decomposition methods. We will specifically describe the importance of the choice of the transmission conditions and discuss the convergence of these methods. In the second part, we explain some iterative algorithms in the context of multiple scattering configurations and discuss important issues related to the high frequency regime.
Rates of convergence in the W^2_p-norm for the Monge-Ampere equation
When: Tue, March 5, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Michael Neilan (Department of Mathematics - Pittsburgh University) - http://www.pitt.edu/~neilan/Neilan/index.html
Abstract: We develop discrete W^2_p-norm error estimates for the Oliker-Prussner method applied to the Monge-Ampere equation. This is obtained by extending discrete Alexandroff estimates and showing that the contact set of a nodal function contains information on its second order differences. In addition, we show that the size of the complement of the contact set is controlled by the consistency of the method. Combined with point wise estimates, we also derive W^1_p estimates as well. Numerical examples are given in two space dimensions and confirm that the estimates are sharp in several cases. This is joint work with Wujun Zhang (Rutgers).
Finite Difference Taylor Methods for Hyperbolic Balance Laws
When: Tue, March 12, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: David Seal (U.S. Naval Academy) - https://www.usna.edu/Users/math/seal/index.php
Abstract: In this work we present novel finite difference weighted ENO (WENO) methods for hyperbolic balance laws based upon Taylor discretizations for time. Temporal expansions are constructed via the Cauchy-Kovalevskaya procedure wherein higher derivatives are found by repeated differentiation of the PDE. The resulting method ends up being a single-stage, single-step method, and therefore is amenable to adaptive mesh refinement (AMR), which is a long-term goal of this project.
Our target application is the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, but the class of solvers discussed here can be applied to a much larger class of problems such as the shallow water and Euler equations. In particular, the MHD equations define a class of fluid plasma models that have been successful at modeling many physical phenomenon including galaxy formation, simulation of solar wind, and even modeling of liquid metals. Our current focus is on ideal MHD, in which case the system reduces to a hyperbolic conservation law. The solver described in this work is able to attain arbitrary order in both space and time. For the MHD equations, we make use of unstaggered constrained transport in order to obtain divergence free magnetic fields at the discrete level, which is a crucial property of any numerical method for this system. Positivity of the pressure and density is found by way of a flux limiter, after casting the entire solver as a method of modified fluxes. Results for several classical problems from the literature, including Orzag-Tang, cloud shock interactions, and blast wave problems are presented. In addition, we include preliminary results with genuinely very high orders (e.g., eleventh-order) of accuracy for some benchmark shallow water and Euler equation examples.
Numerical approximations of Prestrained Plates
When: Mon, March 25, 2019 - 12:00pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Diane Guignard (Department of Mathematics - Texas A&M University) - http://www.math.tamu.edu/~dguignard/
Abstract: We study the elastic behaviour of prestrained plates, phenomenon observed for instance in plastic deformation, natural growth of soft tissues or manufactured polymer gels. When actuated, the prestrained plates reduce their internal stresses by undergoing (possibly large) deformations. Their mathematical modeling consist of a geometric nonlinear fourth order problem with a nonlinear riemanian metric constraint. A discrete gradient flow is proposed to decrease the system energy and is coupled with finite element approximations of the plate deformations based on discontinuous Galerkin finite elements.
In this talk, we give a general description of the model, introduce the numerical scheme and discuss some of its properties, such as the Gamma-convergence of the finite element approximations. We illustrate the performance of the proposed methodology through several numerical experiments involving different prestrain metrics.
A posteriori analysis of time hp-discontinuous Galerkin for fully discretized parabolic problems
When: Tue, March 26, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Omar Lakkis (Department of Mathematics - University of Sussex) - https://www.maths.sussex.ac.uk/Staff/OL/
Abstract: We derive aposteriori error bounds in time-maximum-space-squared-sums and time-mean-squares-of-spatial-energy norms for a class of fully-discrete methods for linear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) on the space-time domain based on hp-version discontinuous Galerkin time-stepping scheme combined with conforming spatial Galerkin finite element method. The proofs are based on a novel space-time reconstructions, which combines the elliptic reconstruction Georgoulis, Lakkis & Virtanen (2011), Lakkis & Makridakis (2006), and Makridakis & Nochetto (2003) of and the time reconstruction for discontinuous time-Galerkin schemes Makridakis & Nochetto (2006), Schötzau & Wihler (2010) into a novel tool, allows for the user's preferred choice of aposteriori error estimates in space and careful analysis of mesh-change effects.
Virtual Elements for the Stokes and Navier-Stokes equation
When: Tue, April 2, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Giuseppe Vacca (Dipartimento di Matematica e Applicazioni - Universita di Milano-Bicocca) -
Abstract: The Virtual Element Method (VEM), introduced in [Beirao da Veiga, Brezzi, Cangiani, Manzini, Marini, Russo, 2013, M3AS], is a generalization of the classical Finite Element Method to arbitrary element-geometry. In the present talk we present a family of Virtual Elements for the Stokes and Navier--Stokes equations. By a proper choice of the Virtual space of velocities and the associated degrees of freedom, we can guarantee that the final discrete velocity is pointwise divergence-free, and not only in a relaxed (projected) sense. Moreover, we show that the discrete problem is immediately equivalent to a reduced problem with fewer degrees of freedom, thus yielding a more efficient scheme. Finally we investigate the underlying Stokes complex structure of the proposed VEM family by introducing an associated highly regular virtual space.
Numerical Analysis of Sparse Initial Data Identification for Parabolic Problems
When: Tue, April 9, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Dmitriy Leykekhman (Department of Mathematics - University of Connecticut) - https://www2.math.uconn.edu/~leykekhman/
Abstract: In this talk we consider a problem of initial data identification from the final time observation for homogeneous parabolic problems. It is well-known that such problems are exponentially ill-posed, has strong smoothing property and very challenging computationally. We are interested in a situation when the initial data we intend to recover is known to be sparse , i.e. has Lebesgue measure zero. We formulate the problem as an optimal control problem and incorporate the sparsity information on data into the structure of the objective functional. In particular in the cost functional contains penalization term of the control in a measure space, which makes the analysis of the problem rather technical. To approximate the problem we use fully discrete continuous piecewise linear finite elements in space and discontinuous Galerkin finite elements of arbitrary degree in time and obtain convergence rates for the state error. In the case when the initial data consists of a linear combination of Dirac measures, we obtain first order convergence rates in space and optimal superconvergent rates in time. The key tool for the analysis are the sharp smoothing type pointwise finite element error analysis for homogeneous parabolic problems. We also illustrate the problem with several numerical experiments.
The Kirchhoff Plate Equation on Curved Domains
When: Tue, April 16, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Shawn Walker (Department of Mathematics and Center for Computation & Technology - Louisiana State University) - https://www.math.lsu.edu/~walker/
Abstract: We study the finite element approximation of the Kirchhoff plate equation on domains with curved boundaries using the Hellan-Herrmann-Johnson (HHJ) method. We prove optimal convergence when using curved parametric HHJ elements. Moreover, we show that the lowest order HHJ method on a polygonal approximation of the disk does not succumb to the classic Babuska paradox. In other words, the (curved) HHJ method is geometrically non-conforming for the plate problem, in addition to being non-conforming at the PDE level. Numerical examples will be given.
Next, we discuss 4th order elliptic problems on surfaces for which there are many applications, such as surfactant problems, surface diffusion, and thin film flows. Many methods and analysis have been given for discretizing the Laplace-Beltrami operator (2nd order elliptic), but much less is known for 4th order elliptic problems on surfaces. We formulate the surface version of the Kirchhoff plate problem, solve it with HHJ elements, and present numerical results.
A new method for solving the poroelastic wave equations with memory terms
When: Tue, April 23, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Miao-Jung Yvonne Ou (Department of Mathematical Sciences - University of Delaware) - http://www.math.udel.edu/~mou/
Abstract: Poroelastic materials are finely structured composites of elastic matrix with viscous pore fluid. Wave propagation with wave length much longer than the microstructure scale can be described by the Biot's equations. The Biot's equations can be considered as the homogenized equations from the linear elastic equations and the Stokes' equation at the microscope. Due to the frequency-dependence of fluid-solid interaction at the micro-scale, the Biot's equations have a memory term, which poses challenges for time domain wave simulation because of the need to sore the past history of solutions. Various techniques based on quadratures for fractional derivative have been proposed for addressing this challenge. In this talk, a new method for efficiently dealing with the memory term will be presented. This new method is not based on the fractional derivative. Instead, it is based on several results in the studies for understanding how microstructure affects the effect properties of poroelastic materials. In this talk, it will be explained how these results lead to an efficient way for dealing with the memory term by introducing auxiliary variables. Several advantages of the new system, which has no memory, will be discussed. Comparison of the numerical results from this new method and that of the fractional-derivative based method will also be addressed. This talk is base on my joint work with Hugo Woerdeman, Jiangming Xie and Liwei Xu.
Boundary Integral Equations on Complex Screens [Appl. Math. Colloquium]
When: Tue, April 30, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Ralf Hiptmair (Department of Mathematics - ETH Zurich) - https://www.math.ethz.ch/sam/the-institute/people/ralf-hiptmair.html
Abstract: A complex screen is an arrangement of panels that may not be even locally orientable because of junction points (2D) or edges (3D). Whereas the situation of simple screens that are locally orientable Lipschitz manifolds with boundary is well understood, the presence of junctions compounds difficulties encountered in the definition of appropriate trace spaces and boundary integral operators associated with second-order elliptic PDEs outside the screen.
Our approach to overcome these difficulties is guided by the intuition that a screen is the limiting case of a massive object, advocates understanding trace spaces as quotient spaces of functions defined on the complement of the screen, and employs Green’s formula to define duality pairings in trace spaces. Using these ideas and tools, we generalize the notions of trace spaces with boundary conditions and jump traces to complex screens. In the process we introduce layer potentials and boundary integral operators for scalar second-order elliptic PDEs and derive their properties like jump relations. Extensions to electromagnetic field equations will be discussed briefly.
The idea can even be harnessed in a boundary element Galerkin setting, using generating systems to realize discrete quotient spaces. This results in singular, but consistent linear system. Krylov-type iterative solvers can cope with them and, thus, the approach paves the way for using boundary element methods on complex screens without worrying about imposing constraints at junctions.
Joint work with X. Claeys, L. Giacomel, and C. Urzúa-Torres.
Operator Preconditioning [Aziz Lecture]
When: Wed, May 1, 2019 - 3:15pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Ralf Hiptmair (Department of Mathematics - ETH Zurich) - https://www.math.ethz.ch/sam/the-institute/people/ralf-hiptmair.html
Abstract: Operator preconditioning offers a general recipe for constructing preconditioners for discrete linear operators that have arisen from a Galerkin approach. The key idea is to employ matching Galerkin discretizations of operators of complementary mapping properties. If these can be found, the resulting preconditioners will be robust with respect to the choice of the bases for trial and test spaces. In particular, in a finite element setting, they will still perform well even for high-resolution models.
Operator preconditioning has a wide range of applications in various areas. It is a generic approach for building preconditioners for variational saddle-point problems and it offers a canonical way to deal with complex-valued problems. Under the name of dual-mesh Calderón preconditioning, it has also become a powerful technique to accelerate iterative solvers for boundary element methods for first-kind boundary integral equations in computational acoustics and electromagnetics.
Finite element methods for Monge–Ampere type problems
When: Tue, May 7, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Ellya Ekawecki (Center for Computation & Technology - Louisiana State University) -
Abstract: This talk focuses on the finite element approximation of Monge–Ampere type problems. In particular, the Dirichlet boundary-value problem, arising in differential geometry, with applications to curvature equations, and the optimal transport problem. We also discuss the challenge of nonuniqueness in approximating such problems, and approaches that may resolve this phenomena. For example, in the two dimensional setting, we utilise a Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman formulation of the Monge–Ampere problem.
Asynchronous Optimized Schwarz Methods for the solution of PDEs
When: Tue, May 14, 2019 - 3:30pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Daniel Szyld (Department of Mathematics - Temple University) - https://www.math.temple.edu/~szyld/
Abstract: Asynchronous methods refer to parallel iterative procedures where each process performs its task without waiting for other processes to be completed, i.e., with whatever information it has locally available and with no synchronizations with other processes. For the numerical solution of a general partial differential equation on a domain, Schwarz iterative methods use a decomposition of the domain into two or more (possibly overlapping) subdomains. In essence one is introducing new artificial boundary conditions on the interfaces between these subdomains. In the classical formulation, these artificial boundary conditions are of Dirichlet type. Given an initial approximation, the method progresses by solving for the PDE restricted to each subdomain using as boundary data on the artificial interfaces the values of the solution on the neighboring subdomain from the previous step. This procedure is inherently parallel, since the (approximate) solutions on each subdomain can be performed by a different processor. In the case of optimized Schwarz, the boundary conditions on the artificial interfaces are of Robin or mixed type. In this way one can optimize the Robin parameter(s) and obtain a very fast method.
In this talk, an asynchronous version of the optimized Schwarz method is presented for the solution of differential equations on a parallel computational environment. In a one-way subdivision of the computational domain, with overlap, the method is shown to converge when the optimal artificial interface conditions are used. Convergence is also proved under very mild conditions on the size of the subdomains, when approximate (non-optimal) interface conditions are utilized, both on the plane, and in rectangular (bounded) domains. Numerical results are presented on large three-dimensional problems illustrating the efficiency of the proposed asynchronous parallel implementation of the method. The main application shown is the calculation of the gravitational potential in the area around the Chicxulub crater, in Yucatan, where an asteroid is believed to have landed 66 million years ago contributing to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
(Joint work with Fréderic Magoulés and José Garay).
Numerical simulation of flows and phase separation on surfaces
When: Mon, May 27, 2019 - 3:00pmWhere: Kirwan Hall 3206
Speaker: Vladimir Yushutin (Department of Mathematics - University of Houston) - https://www.math.uh.edu/~yushutin/landing/
Abstract: Interfacial processes, such as decomposition of a lipid bilayer into liquid and gel phases, involve two-dimensional flow of matter on the curved interface between bulk phases. These and other processes can be modeled in terms of PDE's posed on 2D surfaces embedded in R3. Furthermore, a system of PDE's posed on a surface can be coupled with a geometric flow that defines the surface evolution. In this talk, we address the numerical simulation of interfacial phenomena modeled by the surface Navier-Stokes and surface Allen-Cahn Hilliard equations. For this purpose, we apply the trace finite element method, which relies on a fixed, surface-independent background mesh, thereby allowing for an efficient resolution of the surface evolution and the PDE's. Theoretical and numerical results are presented to illustrate key features of our approach. This is a joint work with Dr. Olshanskii and Dr. Quaini.