Finite element error analysis of wave equations with dynamic boundary conditions: L2 estimates

$L^2$ norm error estimates of semi- and full discretizations of wave equations with dynamic boundary conditions, using bulk–surface finite elements and Runge–Kutta methods, are studied. The analysis rests on an abstract formulation and error estimates, via energy techniques, within this abstract setting. Four prototypical linear wave equations with dynamic boundary conditions are analysed, which fit into the abstract framework. For problems with velocity terms or with acoustic boundary conditions we prove surprising results: for such problems the spatial convergence order is shown to be less than 2. These can also be observed in the presented numerical experiments.

Analysis of spherical shell structure based on SBFEM

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an accurate and efficient element for analysis of spherical shell structures. Design/methodology/approach A scaled boundary finite element method is proposed, which offers more advantages than the finite element method and boundary element method. Only the boundary of the computational domain needs to be discretized, but no fundamental solution is required. Findings The method applies to thin as well as thick spherical shells, irrespective of the shell geometry, boundary conditions and applied loading. The numerical solution converges to highly accurate result with raising the order of high-order elements. Originality/value The modeling strictly follows three-dimensional theory of elasticity. Formulation of the surface finite elements using three translational degree of freedoms per node is required, which results in considerably simplifying the computation. In the thickness directions, it is solved analytically, no problem of high aspect ratio arises and transverse shear locking can be successfully avoided.

Finite element methods for surface PDEs

In this article we consider finite element methods for approximating the solution of partial differential equations on surfaces. We focus on surface finite elements on triangulated surfaces, implicit surface methods using level set descriptions of the surface, unfitted finite element methods and diffuse interface methods. In order to formulate the methods we present the necessary geometric analysis and, in the context of evolving surfaces, the necessary transport formulae. A wide variety of equations and applications are covered. Some ideas of the numerical analysis are presented along with illustrative numerical examples.

Computation of Two-Phase Biomembranes with Phase DependentMaterial Parameters Using Surface Finite Elements

The shapes of vesicles formed by lipid bilayers with phase separation are governed by a bending energy with phase dependent material parameters together with a line energy associated with the phase interfaces. We present a numerical method to approximate solutions to the Euler-Lagrange equations featuring triangulated surfaces, isoparametric quadratic surface finite elements and the phase field approach for the phase separation. Furthermore, the method involves an iterative solution scheme that is based on a relaxation dynamics coupling a geometric evolution equation for the membrane surface with a surface Allen-Cahn equation. Remeshing and grid adaptivity are discussed, and in various simulations the influence of several physical parameters is investigated.

Modelling cell motility and chemotaxis with evolving surface finite elements

We present a mathematical and a computational framework for the modelling of cell motility. The cell membrane is represented by an evolving surface, with the movement of the cell determined by the interaction of various forces that act normal to the surface. We consider external forces such as those that may arise owing to inhomogeneities in the medium and a pressure that constrains the enclosed volume, as well as internal forces that arise from the reaction of the cells' surface to stretching and bending. We also consider a protrusive force associated with a reaction–diffusion system (RDS) posed on the cell membrane, with cell polarization modelled by this surface RDS. The computational method is based on an evolving surface finite-element method. The general method can account for the large deformations that arise in cell motility and allows the simulation of cell migration in three dimensions. We illustrate applications of the proposed modelling framework and numerical method by reporting on numerical simulations of a model for eukaryotic chemotaxis and a model for the persistent movement of keratocytes in two and three space dimensions. Movies of the simulated cells can be obtained from http://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/∼maskae/CV_Warwick/Chemotaxis.html .