Advanced FEM

3
Weak and Variational
Forms of the
Poisson’s Equation

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 1
 Advanced FEM

The Poisson Problem in

Generic Notation

Constitutive coefficient ρ n
x3 Sq : q^n = q

x1 x2 Volume V

Source s
Su : u = u^

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 2
 Advanced FEM

Governing Equations Recalled

KE: ∇u = g in V,
Field equations: CE: ρg = q in V,
BE: ∇ ·q=s in V.

PBC: u = û on Su ,
Classical BCs:
FBC: q.n = qn = q̂n , on Sq .

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 3
 Advanced FEM

The Strong Form Tonti Diagram

u = u^
u^ u s
on Su

g = grad u in V div q = s in V

q = ρ g in V qn = q.n = ^q
g q q^
on Sq

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 4
 Advanced FEM

Weak Form Used as Departure Point for

Deriving a TPE-like (Primal) Functional

u = u^
u^ u s
on Su

(∇.q − s)w B E d V = 0
g = grad u in V V

q = ρ g in V
g q q^

(q · n − q̂) w F BC d S = 0
Sq
Strong connection
Weak connection

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 5
 Advanced FEM
Master/Slave Field Notation
Master field

u = u^
u^ u s
on Su

gu = grad u in V (∇.q − s)w B E d V = 0
Slave fields V

qu = ρ gu in V
gu qu q^

(q · n − q̂) w F BC d S = 0
Sq

Notation: Master field from which slave comes

u Master (primary, gu Slave (secondary,

varied, parent) field derived, sibling) field

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 6
 Advanced FEM

Derivation of the Primal Functional

Form weighted residuals of weak links

 
RB E = (∇ · q − s)w B E d V =
u
(∇ · ρ∇u − s)w B E d V
V 
V

R F BC = (qu · n − q̂) w F BC dS = (ρ∇u) · n − q̂) w F BC d S

Sq Sq

Rewrite as variations of an alleged functional


 
δ B E = − ∇ · ρ∇u + s δu d V
V

 
δ F BC = ρ∇u · n − q̂ δu d S
Sq
if we are lucky

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 7
 Advanced FEM

Derivation of the Primal Functional (cont'd)

Apply divergence theorem

 
DT  
δ B E = ρ∇u · δ ∇u + s δu d V − ρ ∇u · n δu d S
V Sq

Add the contributions of the two weak links

 
alleged  
δ = δ B E + δ F BC = ρ∇u · δ ∇u + s δu d V − q̂ δu d S
V Sq
  
=δ 1
2
ρ ∇u · ∇u d V + δ s u dV − δ q̂ u d S
V V Sq

Yes, we were lucky

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 8
 Advanced FEM

And we Arrive at the Primal Functional

δ is the variation of the TPE (Total Potential Energy-like) functional
  
TPE [u] = 1
2
ρ∇u · ∇u d V + su d V − q̂u d S
V V Sq
  
= 1
2
(qu )T gu d V + s u dV − q̂u d S
V V Sq

  2  2  2   
∂u ∂u ∂u
= 1
ρ + + dV + s u dV − q̂u d S
2
V ∂ x1 ∂ x2 ∂ x3 V Sq

The variational principle is

δ TPE = 0

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 9
 Advanced FEM

Multifield and Mixed Functionals

Definitions
Multifield functional: involves more than one master field

Mixed functional: master fields are internal (volume) fields

Motivation for Developing Mixed Functionals in FEM

Balanced approximation to multiple fields

Ingredient of hybrid functionals

May relax interelement continuity requirements

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 10
 Advanced FEM

Weak Form Used as Departure Point to

Derive a HR-like Mixed Functional
Master fields
u = u^
u^ u s
on Su

g u = grad u in V

(∇.q − s)w B E d V = 0
gu V


Slave fields 
(gu − gq ) wGG d V = 0
V (q · n − q̂) w F BC d S = 0
Sq

g q= ρ-1 q in V
gq q q^

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 11
 Advanced FEM
Derivation of Mixed Functional
Form weighted residuals of weak links
 
RB E = (∇ · q − s) w B E d V R F BC = (q · n − q̂) w F BC d S
V Sq
 
RGG = (gu − gq ) wGG d V = (∇u − ρ −1 q) wGG d V
V V

Rewrite as variations of an alleged functional

w B E → −δu, w F BC → δu, w F BC → δq
  
  DT  
δ B E = − ∇ · q + s δu d V = q δ∇u + s δu d V − q · n δu d S
V V Sq
 
   −1

δ F BC = q · n − q̂ δu d S δ GG = ∇u − ρ q δq d V
Sq V

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 12
 Advanced FEM
Derivation of Mixed Functional (cont'd)
Adding the contributions of the three weak links:
δ = δ B E + δ F BC + δ GG
 

= (q δ∇u + (∇u − ρ −1 q) δq + s δu d V − q̂ δu d S
V Sq

This is the variation of the functional

  
1 −1
HR [u, q] = (q · ∇u − 2
ρ q · q) d V + su d V − q̂ u d S
V V Sq
  
∂u ∂u ∂u 1  2 
= q1 + q2 + q3 − q1 + q22 + q32 d V
∂ x1 ∂ x2 ∂ x3 2ρ
V 
+ s u dV − q̂ u d S
V Sq

The variational principle is

δ HR = 0

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 13
 Advanced FEM

Gauss' Divergence Theorem (Review)

Departure point is classical form of theorem: divergence of a vector
field a in V is equal to the vector flux over S, or
 
∇ · a dV = a · n dS
V S

Take a = φ b
 
(φ ∇ · b + ∇φ · b) d V = φb · n d S
V S

Take b = α∇ ψ
 
 
φ ∇ · (α∇ψ) + ∇φ · (α∇ψ) d V = φ α ∇ψ · n d S
V S

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 14
 Advanced FEM

Gauss' Divergence Theorem (Review, cont'd)

Can be applied to Poisson's equation ∇ · (ρ∇u) = s substituting φ → −δu,
ψ → u and α → ρ to get
 
 
− δu ∇ · (ρ∇u) + ∇δu · (ρ∇u) d V = − δu ρ ∇u · n d S.
V S

Rearrange terms, separate the surface integral in two portions and

note that δu = 0 on Su because u = u^ there:
  
∇ · (ρ∇u) δu d V = ρ∇u · ∇ δu d V − ρ ∇u · n δu d S
  
V V S
0
= ρ∇u · ∇ δu d V − ρ ∇u · n

δu d S − ρ ∇u · n δu d S
V Su Sq
 
= ρ∇u · δ ∇u d V − ρ ∇u · n δu d S.
V Sq

This relation is used in the development of the primal functional

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 15
 Advanced FEM
Robin Boundary Conditions (Ch. 3 Exercises)

u = u^
u^ u s
on Su

g = grad u in V div q = s in V

q = ρ g in V qn = q.n = ^q
g q q^
on Sq

Connect these
two boxs,
messing up
diagram
Examples in heat conduction:
convection (Exercise 3.2)
radiation (Exercise 3.3)

AFEM Ch 3 – Slide 16