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DN2260 The Finite Element Method 6.0 credits

Finita elementmetoden

Please note

This course is dormant.

A second course on computational methods focusing on the finite element method (FEM) and partial differential equations.

  • Educational level

    Second cycle

  • Academic level (A-D)

    C

  • Subject area

    Mathematics

  • Grade scale

    A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

At present this course is not scheduled to be offered.

Learning outcomes

Basic laws of nature are typically expressed in the form of partial differential equations (PDE), such as Navier's equations of elasticity, Maxwell's equations of electromagnetics, Navier-Stokes equations of fluid flow, and Schrödinger's equations of quantum mechanics. The Finite element method (FEM) has emerged as a universal tool for the computational solution of PDEs with a multitude of applications in engineering and science. Adaptivity is an important computational technology where the FEM algorithm is automatically tailored to compute a user specified output of interest to a chosen accuracy, to a minimal computational cost.

This FEM course aims to provide the student both with theoretical and practical skills, including the ability to formulate and implement adaptive FEM algorithms for an important family of PDEs.

The theoretical part of this course deals mainly with scalar linear PDE, for which the student should be able to:

  • derive the weak formulation.
  • formulate a corresponding FEM approximation.
  • estimate the stability of a given linear PDE and it's FEM approximation.
  • derive a priori and a posteriori error estimates in the energy norm, the L2-norm, and linear functionals of the solution.
  • state and use the Lax-Milgram theorem for a given variational problem.

In the practical part of the course the student should be able to:

  • modify an existing FEM program to solve a new scalar linear PDE.
  • implement an adaptive mesh refinement algorithm, based on an a posteriori error estimate derived in the theoretical part.
  • describe standard components in FEM algorithms.

Course main content

FEM-formulation of linear and non-linear partial differential equations, element types and their implementation, grid generation, adaption and error control, efficient solution algorithms (e.g. by a multigrid method).

Applications to stationary and transient diffusion processes, elasticity, convection-diffusion, Navier-Stokes equation, quantum mechanics etc.

Eligibility

Single course students: 90 university credits including 45 university credits in Mathematics or Information Technology. English B, or equivalent.

Prerequisites

DN2221 Applied Numerical Methods, part 1 (or corresponding), can be read in parallel.

Literature

To be announced at least 4 weeks before course start at course web page. Previous year: material produced at the department was used.

Examination

  • LAB2 - Laboratory Task, 3.0 credits, grade scale: P, F
  • TEN2 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

In this course all the regulations of the code of honor at the School of Computer science and Communication apply, see: http://www.kth.se/csc/student/hederskodex/1.17237?l=en_UK.

Requirements for final grade

Examination (TEN2; 3 university credits).
Assignments (LAB2; 3 university credits).

Offered by

SCI/Mathematics

Contact

Johan Jansson, e-post: jjan@csc.kth.se

Examiner

Add-on studies

2D1263 Scientific Computing, 2D1290/DN2290 Advanced Numerical Methods, or 2D1252/DN2252 or 2D1253/DN2253.

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 09.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 07.