Surface Diffusion of Graphs: Variational Formulation, Error Analysis, and Simulation

Bänsch E, Morin P, Nochetto R (2004)


Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2004

Journal

Publisher: Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

Book Volume: 42

Pages Range: 773-799

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1137/S0036142902419272

Abstract

Surface diffusion is a (fourth-order highly nonlinear) geometric driven motion of a surface with normal velocity proportional to the surface Laplacian of mean curvature. We present a novel variational formulation for graphs and derive a priori error estimates for a time-continuous finite element discretization. We also introduce a semi-implicit time discretization and a Schur complement approach to solve the resulting fully discrete, linear systems. After computational verification of the orders of convergence for polynomial degrees 1 and 2, we show several simulations in one dimension and two dimensions with and without forcing which explore the smoothing effect of surface diffusion, as well as the onset of singularities in finite time, such as infinite slopes and cracks. © 2004 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

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How to cite

APA:

Bänsch, E., Morin, P., & Nochetto, R. (2004). Surface Diffusion of Graphs: Variational Formulation, Error Analysis, and Simulation. SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis, 42(2), 773-799. https://doi.org/10.1137/S0036142902419272

MLA:

Bänsch, Eberhard, Pedro Morin, and Ricardo Nochetto. "Surface Diffusion of Graphs: Variational Formulation, Error Analysis, and Simulation." SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis 42.2 (2004): 773-799.

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