A Posteriori Error Estimates for Finite Element Approximations of the Cahn-Hilliard Equation and the Hele-Shaw Flow

A Posteriori Error Estimates for Finite Element Approximations of the Cahn-Hilliard Equation and the Hele-Shaw Flow

Year:    2008

Journal of Computational Mathematics, Vol. 26 (2008), Iss. 6 : pp. 767–796

Abstract

This paper develops a posteriori error estimates of residual type for conforming and mixed finite element approximations of the fourth order Cahn-Hilliard equation $u_t+∆(ε∆u−ε^{-1}f(u))=0$. It is shown that the a posteriori error bounds depends on $ε^{-1}$ only in some low polynomial order, instead of exponential order. Using these a posteriori error estimates, we construct an adaptive algorithm for computing the solution of the Cahn-Hilliard equation and its sharp interface limit, the Hele-Shaw flow. Numerical experiments are presented to show the robustness and effectiveness of the new error estimators and the proposed adaptive algorithm.

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Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/2008-JCM-8659

Journal of Computational Mathematics, Vol. 26 (2008), Iss. 6 : pp. 767–796

Published online:    2008-01

AMS Subject Headings:   

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    30

Keywords:    Cahn-Hilliard equation Hele-Shaw flow Phase transition Conforming elements Mixed finite element methods A posteriori error estimates Adaptivity