We derive a posteriori error estimates in the $L_infty((0,T];L_infty(Omega))$ norm for approximations of solutions to linear para bolic equations. Using the elliptic reconstruction technique introduced by Makridakis and Nochetto and heat kernel estimates for linear parabolic pr oblems, we first prove a posteriori bounds in the maximum norm for semidiscrete finite element approximations. We then establish a posteriori bounds for a fully discrete backward Euler finite element approximation. The elliptic reconstruction technique greatly simplifies our development by allow ing the straightforward combination of heat kernel estimates with existing elliptic maximum norm error estimators.
The Richards equation is commonly used to model the flow of water and air through soil, and it serves as a gateway equation for multiphase flows through porous media. It is a nonlinear advection-reaction-diffusion equation that exhibits both parabolic-hyperbolic and parabolic-elliptic kinds of degeneracies. In this study, we provide reliable, fully computable, and locally space-time efficient a posteriori error bounds for numerical approximations of the fully degenerate Richards equation. For showing global reliability, a nonlocal-in-time error estimate is derived individually for the time-integrated $H^1(H^{-1})$, $L^2(L^2)$, and the $L^2(H^1)$ errors. A maximum principle and a degeneracy estimator are employed for the last one. Global and local space-time efficiency error bounds are then obtained in a standard $H^1(H^{-1})cap L^2(H^1)$ norm. The reliability and efficiency norms employed coincide when there is no nonlinearity. Moreover, error contributors such as flux nonconformity, time discretization, quadrature, linearization, and data oscillation are identified and separated. The estimates are also valid in a setting where iterative linearization with inexact solvers is considered. Numerical tests are conducted for nondegenerate and degenerate cases having exact solutions, as well as for a realistic case. It is shown that the estimators correctly identify the errors up to a factor of the order of unity.
Hybrid quantum/molecular mechanics models (QM/MM methods) are widely used in material and molecular simulations when MM models do not provide sufficient accuracy but pure QM models are computationally prohibitive. Adaptive QM/MM coupling methods feature on-the-fly classification of atoms during the simulation, allowing the QM and MM subsystems to be updated as needed. In this work, we propose such an adaptive QM/MM method for material defect simulations based on a new residual based it a posteriori error estimator, which provides both lower and upper bounds for the true error. We validate the analysis and illustrate the effectiveness of the new scheme on numerical simulations for material defects.
In two dimensions, we propose and analyze an a posteriori error estimator for finite element approximations of the stationary Navier Stokes equations with singular sources on Lipschitz, but not necessarily convex, polygonal domains. Under a smallness assumption on the continuous and discrete solutions, we prove that the devised error estimator is reliable and locally efficient. We illustrate the theory with numerical examples.
Finite element exterior calculus (FEEC) has been developed over the past decade as a framework for constructing and analyzing stable and accurate numerical methods for partial differential equations by employing differential complexes. The recent work of Arnold, Falk and Winther cite{ArFaWi2010} includes a well-developed theory of finite element methods for Hodge Laplace problems, including a priori error estimates. In this work we focus on developing a posteriori error estimates in which the computational error is bounded by some computable functional of the discrete solution and problem data. More precisely, we prove a posteriori error estimates of residual type for Arnold-Falk-Winther mixed finite element methods for Hodge-de Rham Laplace problems. While a number of previous works consider a posteriori error estimation for Maxwells equations and mixed formulations of the scalar Laplacian, the approach we take is distinguished by unified treatment of the various Hodge Laplace problems arising in the de Rham complex, consistent use of the language and analytical framework of differential forms, and the development of a posteriori error estimates for harmonic forms and the effects of their approximation on the resulting numerical method for the Hodge Laplacian.
A posteriori error estimates are constructed for the three-field variational formulation of the Biot problem involving the displacements, the total pressure and the fluid pressure. The discretization under focus is the H1({Omega})-conforming Taylor-Hood finite element combination, consisting of polynomial degrees k + 1 for the displacements and the fluid pressure and k for the total pressure. An a posteriori error estimator is derived on the basis of H(div)-conforming reconstructions of the stress and flux approximations. The symmetry of the reconstructed stress is allowed to be satisfied only weakly. The reconstructions can be performed locally on a set of vertex patches and lead to a guaranteed upper bound for the error with a constant that depends only on local constants associated with the patches and thus on the shape regularity of the triangulation. Particular emphasis is given to nearly incompressible materials and the error estimates hold uniformly in the incompressible limit. Numerical results on the L-shaped domain confirm the theory and the suitable use of the error estimator in adaptive strategies.