Year: 2018
Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 23 (2018), Iss. 2 : pp. 572–602
Abstract
In this paper we present a second order accurate (in time) energy stable numerical scheme for the Cahn-Hilliard (CH) equation, with a mixed finite element approximation in space. Instead of the standard second order Crank-Nicolson methodology, we apply the implicit backward differentiation formula (BDF) concept to derive second order temporal accuracy, but modified so that the concave diffusion term is treated explicitly. This explicit treatment for the concave part of the chemical potential ensures the unique solvability of the scheme without sacrificing energy stability. An additional term $A$τ∆($u^{k+1}$−$u^k$) is added, which represents a second order Douglas-Dupont-type regularization, and a careful calculation shows that energy stability is guaranteed, provided the mild condition $A$≥$\frac{1}{16}$ is enforced. In turn, a uniform in time $H^1$ bound of the numerical solution becomes available. As a result, we are able to establish an $ℓ^∞$(0,$T$;$L^2$) convergence analysis for the proposed fully discrete scheme, with full $\mathcal{O}$ (τ2+$h^2$) accuracy. This convergence turns out to be unconditional; no scaling law is needed between the time step size $τ$ and the spatial grid size $h$. A few numerical experiments are presented to conclude the article.
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Journal Article Details
Publisher Name: Global Science Press
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.OA-2016-0197
Communications in Computational Physics, Vol. 23 (2018), Iss. 2 : pp. 572–602
Published online: 2018-01
AMS Subject Headings: Global Science Press
Copyright: COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press
Pages: 31
Keywords: Cahn-Hilliard equation energy stable BDF Douglas-Dupont regularization mixed finite element energy stability.