Finite Element Analysis

Fundamentals of the Finite Elements Method
Christian Kuschel
University Erlangen-Nuremberg
December 13, 2010
C. Kuschel (FAU Erlangen) Fundamentals of FEM 12/13/2010 1 / 37
Outline
1
Introduction
2
Road to Finite Elements Method
3
The Finite Elements Method
Initial Situation
Problem
Solve u = f in numerically
Considerations
u is a function
Transform problem in a linear system of equations
Straight-forward Approach
Finite Difference Method
Numerically approximate u = f
Calculate function values at certain points
Hooks of Finite Difference Method
Problems
Grid cannot be chosen arbitrarily
u has to be in C
4
()
Our Desire
We want . . .
solutions on any domain
solutions independent of mesh shape
solutions with softer constraints
Set-up
Initial Problem
Dicult to solve
Hard Constraints
Initial Situation
Solve u = f in numerically
Approach
Analyse properties of u
Use math to reformulate problem
What if we found a potential Solution?
Assume . . .
we know true solution u
we solved Poissons equations and got a function z
How can we show that u and z are identical?
Intermezzo: Comparison
true solution
derived solution
Intermezzo: Comparison
true solution
derived solution
Comparison in Mathematics
Equivalence of Functions
Choose a test function v C
0
()
Apply test function to candidates u and z
u vdx =
z vdx, v C
0
If both integrals are equal, we conclude u z
Integration implies u z almost everywhere
Conclusion
u vdx =
z vdx
(u z) vdx = 0
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus of Variations
F vdx = 0 F = 0, v C
0
()
Reformulating Poissons Equation
Applying Fundamental Theorem of Calculus of Variations
Consider u = f in
Multiplying with v and integration yields
u vdx =
f vdx
Implications on Laplaces Equation
f = 0
We immediately derive
u vdx = 0 u = 0
Impact on Laplaces Equation
Removing second Derivatives
Alternative formulation of Laplaces equation:
u vdx = 0, v C
0
()
Remember: u := (u)
Integration by parts yields (divergence theorem):
u vdx
u vd = 0
Properties of u revisited
Weak Formulation
u vdx =
u vdx = 0, v C
0
()
Only rst derivative required
In particular, only weak derivatives are required
Soften Restrictions on u
u must have one weak derivative
u and u must be square integrable
We conclude: u W
1,2
()
Stopover
Weak Formulation
Soften Constraints
Solvable?
Initial Problem
Dicult to solve
Hard Constraints
Achievements
We derived an alternative formulation for our problem
We softened restrictions of the solution
So far we ended up with a solution in W
1,2
()
Eye on Vector Spaces
The Sobolev Space W
1,2
()
contains functions which are differentiable once
contains functions which are square integrable
The Hilbert Space H
1
()
has scalar product ,
has innetely many dimenions
has always a basis
Solution in the Hilbert Space
u vdx = 0, u, v H
1
()
Operator notation
Dene scalar product:
u, v :=
H
1
() H
1
() R
(u, v)
u vdx
Introducing an operator: a(u, v) := u, v
New formulation: a(u, v) = 0
Assembling all Pieces
Lax-Milgrams Theorem
a(u, v) = f (v) has always a unique solution in H
1
()
f must be a continuous and linear operator
Conclusions
a(u, v) = 0 is equivalent to Laplaces equation
a(u, v) = f (v) is equivalent to Poissons equation
Both equations have a unique solution
What did we gain?
Weak Formulation
Soften Constraints
Solvable!
Initial Problem
Dicult to solve
Hard Constraints
We softened the restrictions of the solution
Our problem always has a unique solution now
How do we calculate the solution?
Galerkins Method
Idea
Express u by linear combination of a
basis in H
1
()
u
Recall
There always exists a basis in H
1
()
H
1
() has innitely many dimensions
Approximate H
1
() with a nite basis
Approximation of the Hilbert Space
Recall
Find u such that a(u, v) = f (v) holds
Approach
Choose n basis functions
i
Express u w.r.t.
i
: u
h
=
i

i
i
Express v w.r.t.
i
: v
h
=
i

i
i
a and f can be expressed in terms of
i
Operator Notation revisited
Reformulation
Applying linear combination and linearity of a:
a(u
h
, v
h
) =
n
i =1
n
j =1
i
a(
j
,
i
) =
n
i =1
i
f (
i
)
Weak formulation holds for all v, we choose one suitable v
We arrive at a linear system of equations:
n
j =1
a(
j
,
i
)
j
= f (
i
)
We get Au = f
Finding a Solution
Procedure
1
Choose any basis functions
i
from H
1
()
2
Set up and solve linear system of equations
Considerations
Can we choose any function from H
1
()?
Yes, but A may be ill-conditioned and dense
Remember: a(
j
,
i
) =
j

i
dx
Example
y = 1
y = x
y = x
2
u
Review
Weak Formulation
Soften Constraints
Solvable
Initial Problem
Dicult to solve
Hard Constraints
LSE
Achievements
We reformulated our problem
We found a linear system of equations which solves our problem
We are still unhappy with the basis functions
Basis Functions revisited
y = 1
y = x
y = x
2
u
Basis Functions revisited
u
Discretizing the Domain

Finite Elements Discretization
Triangularize domain
Basis functions which are non-zero in small parts of the domain
Focus on a single Element
One pyramid function
Pyramid functions on single

element
Solving the Problem on one Element
1
2
3
* * *
* * *
* * *
1
2
3
1 2 3
Observations
Solve a(
j
,
i
) = f (
i
) locally
Local solution has only local inuence
We get a local matrix
Assembling Elements
* * *
* * *
* * *
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
Assembling A
Transfer local matrix entries to global matrix
A is sparse symmetric positive-denite
Reminder
Weak Formulation
Soften Constraints
Solvable
Initial Problem
Dicult to solve
Hard Constraints
LSE
Improving the Approximation
u
u
h
u
u
h
How to obtain better Approximations
Choose more basis functions
Choose higher order basis functions
Evaluation of the Solution
How good is our solution?
We found approximated u
h
solving Poissons equation
Due to the fundamental theorem of calculus of variations u
h
u
Boundary conditions can be incorporated too
Does Finite Elements Method work for all PDEs?
It works well for elliptic PDEs
Connection between strong and weak formulation is essential
Finite Elements Method can be extended for hyperbolic PDEs
Summary
Weve discussed . . .
how to obtain the weak formulation
how we can nd a solution
how to choose suitable basis functions
how to solve the problem
Thank you for listening!
Sources
1 Strang, Fix: An Analysis of the Finite Element Method. Second
edition, Wellesley-Cambridge Press, 2008.
2 Knabner, Angermann: Numerical Methods for Elliptic and
Parabolic Partial Differential Equations. Springer, 2003.
3 Lecture notes from Simulation and Scientic Computing 2,
summer term 2010.

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Fundamentals of the Finite Elements Method

C. Kuschel (FAU Erlangen) Fundamentals of FEM 12/13/2010 27 / 37

One pyramid function

Pyramid functions on single

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