Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Springer INdAM Series ((SINDAMS,volume 4))

Abstract

We present several applications governed by geometric PDE, and their parametric finite element discretization, which might yield singular behavior. The success of such discretization hinges on an adequate variational formulation of the Laplace-Beltrami operator, which we describe in detail for polynomial degree 1. We next present a complete a posteriori error analysis which accounts for the usual PDE error as well as the geometric error induced by interpolation of the surface. This leads to an adaptive finite element method (AFEM) and its convergence. We discuss a contraction property of AFEM and show its quasi-optimal cardinality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ainsworth, M., Oden, J.T.: A Posteriori Error Estimation in Finite Element Analysis. Pure and Applied Mathematics (New York). Wiley-Interscience, New York (2000), pp. xx+240

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Bänsch, E.: Finite element discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations with a free capillary surface. Numer. Math. 88(2), 203–235 (2001)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Bänsch, E., Haußer, F., Lakkis, O., Li, B., Voigt, A.: Finite element method for epitaxial growth with attachment-detachment kinetics. J. Comput. Phys. 194(2), 409–434 (2004)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Bänsch, E., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H.: Surface diffusion of graphs: variational formulation, error analysis, and simulation. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 42(2), 773–799 (2004)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  5. Bänsch, E., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H.: A finite element method for surface diffusion: the parametric case. J. Comput. Phys. 203(1), 321–343 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. Barrett, J.W., Garcke, H., Nürnberg, R.: A parametric finite element method for fourth order geometric evolution equations. J. Comput. Phys. 222(1), 441–462 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Barrett, J.W., Garcke, H., Nürnberg, R.: Parametric approximation of Willmore flow and related geometric evolution equations. SIAM J. Sci. Comput. 31(1), 225–253 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. Barrett, J.W., Garcke, H., Nürnberg, R.: Finite-element approximation of coupled surface and grain boundary motion with applications to thermal grooving and sintering. Eur. J. Appl. Math. 21(6), 519–556 (2010)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. Bartels, S., Dolzmann, G., Nochetto, R.H.: A finite element scheme for the evolution of orientation order in fluid membranes. Modél. Math. Anal. Numér. 44(1), 1–31 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Bartels, S., Dolzmann, G., Nochetto, R.H., Raisch, A.: Finite element methods for director fields on flexible surfaces. Interfaces Free Bound. 14(2), 231–272 (2012). doi:10.4171/IFB/281

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Binev, P., Dahmen, W., DeVore, R.A.: Adaptive finite element methods with convergence rates. Numer. Math. 97(2), 219–268 (2004)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  12. Bonito, A., Nochetto, R.H.: Quasi-optimal convergence rate of an adaptive discontinuous Galerkin method. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 48(2), 734–771 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Bonito, A., Pasciak, J.E.: Convergence analysis of variational and non-variational multigrid algorithm for the Laplace-Beltrami operator. Math. Comput. 81, 1263–1288 (2012)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  14. Bonito, A., Nochetto, R.H., Pauletti, M.S.: Geometrically consistent mesh modification. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 48(5), 1877–1899 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Bonito, A., Nochetto, R.H., Pauletti, M.S.: Parametric FEM for geometric biomembranes. J. Comput. Phys. 229(9), 3171–3188 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  16. Bonito, A., Nochetto, R.H., Pauletti, M.S.: Dynamics of biomembranes: effect of the bulk fluid. Math. Model. Nat. Phenom. 6(5), 25–43 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. Bonito, A., Cascón, J.M., Mekchay, K., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H.: AFEM for the Laplace-Beltrami operator on parametric surfaces: convergence rates (in preparation)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bonito, A., DeVore, R.A., Nochetto, R.H.: Adaptive finite element methods for elliptic problems with discontinuous coefficients (in preparation)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Brenner, S.C., Scott, L.R.: The Mathematical Theory of Finite Element Methods. Texts in Applied Mathematics, vol. 15, 2nd edn. Springer, New York (2002), pp. xvi+361

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. Cahn, J., Taylor, J.E.: Surface motion by surface diffusion. Acta Metall. Mater. 42, 1045–1063 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Cascón, J.M., Kreuzer, C., Nochetto, R.H., Siebert, K.G.: Quasi-optimal convergence rate for an adaptive finite element method. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 46(5), 2524–2550 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  22. Ciarlet, P.G.: The Finite Element Method for Elliptic Problems. Studies in Mathematics and its Applications, vol. 4. North-Holland, Amsterdam (1978), pp. xix+530

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  23. Cohen, A., DeVore, R., Nochetto, R.H.: Convergence rates for AFEM with H −1 data. Found. Comput. Math. 12(5), 671–718 (2012). doi:10.1007/s10208-012-9120-1

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  24. Deckelnick, K., Dziuk, G.: Discrete anisotropic curvature flow of graphs. Modél. Math. Anal. Numér. 33(6), 1203–1222 (1999)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  25. Deckelnick, K., Dziuk, G.: Error estimates for a semi-implicit fully discrete finite element scheme for the mean curvature flow of graphs. Interfaces Free Bound. 2(4), 341–359 (2000)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  26. Deckelnick, K., Dziuk, G., Elliott, C.M.: Fully discrete finite element approximation for anisotropic surface diffusion of graphs. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 43(3), 1112–1138 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  27. Deckelnick, K., Dziuk, G.: Error analysis of a finite element method for the Willmore flow of graphs. Interfaces Free Bound. 8(1), 21–46 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Demlow, A.: Higher-order finite element methods and pointwise error estimates for elliptic problems on surfaces. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 47(2), 805–827 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  29. Demlow, A., Dziuk, G.: An adaptive finite element method for the Laplace-Beltrami operator on implicitly defined surfaces. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 45(1), 421–442 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  30. Dierkes, U., Hildebrandt, S., Küster, A., Wohlrab, O.: Minimal Surfaces. I. Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften [Fundamental Principles of Mathematical Sciences], vol. 295. Springer, Berlin (1992), pp. xiv+508

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  31. do Carmo, M.P.: Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1976), pp. viii+503

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  32. Doğan, G., Nochetto, R.H.: First variation of the general curvature-dependent surface energy. Modél. Math. Anal. Numér. 46(1), 59–79 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Doǧan, G., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H., Verani, M.: Discrete gradient flows for shape optimization and applications. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 196(37–40), 3898–3914 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Du, Q., Liu, C., Wang, X.: Simulating the deformation of vesicle membranes under elastic bending energy in three dimensions. J. Comput. Phys. 212(2), 757–777 (2006)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  35. Dziuk, G.: Finite elements for the Beltrami operator on arbitrary surfaces. In: Partial Differential Equations and Calculus of Variations. Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 1357, pp. 142–155 (1988)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Dziuk, G.: An algorithm for evolutionary surfaces. Numer. Math. 58(6), 603–611 (1991)

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  37. Dziuk, G.: Computational parametric Willmore flow. Numer. Math. 111(1), 55–80 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  38. Elliott, C.M., Stinner, B.: Modeling and computation of two phase geometric biomembranes using surface finite elements. J. Comput. Phys. 229(18), 6585–6612 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  39. Gilbarg, D., Trudinger, N.S.: Elliptic Partial Differential Equations of Second Order. Grundlehren der Mathematischen Wissenschaften [Fundamental Principles of Mathematical Sciences], vol. 224, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin (1983), pp. xiii+513

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  40. Han, Q., Lin, F.: Elliptic Partial Differential Equations. Courant Lecture Notes in Mathematics, vol. 1, 2nd edn. Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York (2011), pp. x+147

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  41. Helfrich, W.: Elastic properties of lipid bilayers—theory and possible experiments. Z. Nat.forsch., C J. Biosci. 28, 693 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Khairy, K., Foo, J., Howard, J.: Shapes of red blood cells: comparison of 3D confocal images with the bilayer-couple model. Cell. Mol. Bioeng. 1(2), 173–181 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kornhuber, R., Yserentant, H.: Multigrid methods for discrete elliptic problems on triangular surfaces. Comput. Vis. Sci. 11(4–6), 251–257 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  44. Lakkis, O., Nochetto, R.H.: A posteriori error analysis for the mean curvature flow of graphs. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 42(5), 1875–1898 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  45. Laradji, M., Mouritsen, O.G.: Elastic properties of surfactant monolayers at liquid-liquid interfaces: a molecular dynamics study. J. Chem. Phys. 112(19), 8621–8630 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Mekchay, K., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H.: AFEM for the Laplace-Beltrami operator on graphs: design and conditional contraction property. Math. Comput. 80(274), 625–648 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  47. Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H., Siebert, K.G.: Data oscillation and convergence of adaptive FEM. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 38(2), 466–488 (2000)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  48. Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H., Siebert, K.G.: Convergence of adaptive finite element methods. SIAM Rev. 44(4), 631–658 (2002)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  49. Nochetto, R.H., Siebert, K.G., Veeser, A.: Theory of adaptive finite element methods: an introduction. In: Multiscale, Nonlinear and Adaptive Approximation, pp. 409–542. Springer, Berlin (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  50. Rusu, R.E.: An algorithm for the elastic flow of surfaces. Interfaces Free Bound. 7(3), 229–239 (2005)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  51. Sokołowski, J., Zolésio, J.-P.: Introduction to Shape Optimization. Springer Series in Computational Mathematics, vol. 16. Springer, Berlin (1992)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  52. Stevenson, R.: Optimality of a standard adaptive finite element method. Found. Comput. Math. 7(2), 245–269 (2007)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  53. Stevenson, R.: The completion of locally refined simplicial partitions created by bisection. Math. Comput. 77(261), 227–241 (2008)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  54. Taylor, J.E.: Some mathematical challenges in materials science. Bull. Am. Math. Soc. (N.S.) 40(1), 69–87 (2003)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  55. Verfürth, R.: A Review of a Posteriori Error Estimation and Adaptive Mesh-Refinement Technique. Wiley-Teubner, Chichester (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Willmore, T.J.: Riemannian Geometry. Oxford Science Publications. The Clarendon Press/Oxford University Press, New York (1993), pp. xii+318

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work of A. Bonito was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-0914977.

The work of J.M. Cascón was partially supported by Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación through grant: CGL2011-29396-C03-02 (Spain), and by Conserjería de Educación (Junta de Castilla y León), through grant: SA266A12-2.

The work of P. Morin was partially supported by CONICET through grant PIP 112-200801-02182, Universidad Nacional del Litoral through grants CAI+D 062-312, 062-309, and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, through grant PICT-2008-0622 (Argentina).

The work of R.H. Nochetto was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-1109325, and the General Research Board of the University of Maryland.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo H. Nochetto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Additional information

In memory of Enrico Magenes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bonito, A., Cascón, J.M., Morin, P., Nochetto, R.H. (2013). AFEM for Geometric PDE: The Laplace-Beltrami Operator. In: Brezzi, F., Colli Franzone, P., Gianazza, U., Gilardi, G. (eds) Analysis and Numerics of Partial Differential Equations. Springer INdAM Series, vol 4. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2592-9_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics