Convergent Difference Schemes for Degenerate Elliptic and Parabolic Equations: Hamilton--Jacobi Equations and Free Boundary Problems

Abstract

Convergent numerical schemes for degenerate elliptic partial differential equations are constructed and implemented. Simple conditions are identified which ensure that nonlinear finite difference schemes are monotone and nonexpansive in the maximum norm. Explicit schemes endowed with an explicit CFL condition are built for time-dependent equations and are used to solve stationary equations iteratively. Explicit and implicit formulations of monotonicity for first- and second-order equations are unified. Bounds on orders of accuracy are established. An example of a scheme which is stable, but nonmonotone and nonconvergent, is presented. Schemes for Hamilton--Jacobi equations, obstacle problems, one-phase free boundary problems, and stochastic games are built and computational results are presented.

MSC codes

  1. 65N06
  2. 65N12
  3. 65M06
  4. 65M12
  5. 35B50
  6. 35J60
  7. 35R35
  8. 35K65
  9. 49L25

Keywords

  1. finite difference schemes
  2. partial differential equations
  3. monotone schemes
  4. viscosity solution
  5. Hamilton--Jabobi equation
  6. free boundary problems

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Published In

cover image SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
Pages: 879 - 895
ISSN (online): 1095-7170

History

Published online: 25 July 2006

MSC codes

  1. 65N06
  2. 65N12
  3. 65M06
  4. 65M12
  5. 35B50
  6. 35J60
  7. 35R35
  8. 35K65
  9. 49L25

Keywords

  1. finite difference schemes
  2. partial differential equations
  3. monotone schemes
  4. viscosity solution
  5. Hamilton--Jabobi equation
  6. free boundary problems

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