The main purpose of this book is to provide a concise introduction to the methods and philosophy of constructing nonstandard finite difference schemes and illustrate how such techniques can be applied to several important problems. Chapter I gives an overview of the subject and summarizes previous work. Chapters 2 and 3 consider in detail the construction and numerical implementation of schemes for physical problems involving convection-diffusion-reaction equations, that arise in groundwater pollution and scattering of electromagnetic waves using Maxwell's equations. Chapter 4 examines certain mathematical issues related to the nonstandard discretization of competitive and cooperative models for ecology. The application chapters illustrate well the power of nonstandard methods. In particular, for the same accuracy as obtained by standard techniques, larger step sizes can be used. This volume will satisfy the needs of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who wish to know how to construct nonstandard schemes and see how these are applied to obtain numerical solutions of the differential equations which arise in the study of nonlinear dynamical systems modeling important physical phenomena.

This second edition of Nonstandard Finite Difference Models of Differential Equations provides an update on the progress made in both the theory and application of the NSFD methodology during the past two and a half decades. In addition to discussing details related to the determination of the denominator functions and the nonlocal discrete representations of functions of dependent variables, we include many examples illustrating just how this should be done.Of real value to the reader is the inclusion of a chapter listing many exact difference schemes, and a chapter giving NSFD schemes from the research literature. The book emphasizes the critical roles played by the 'principle of dynamic consistency' and the use of sub-equations for the construction of valid NSFD discretizations of differential equations.

This book provides a clear summary of the work of the author on the construction of nonstandard finite difference schemes for the numerical integration of differential equations. The major thrust of the book is to show that discrete models of differential equations exist such that the elementary types of numerical instabilities do not occur. A consequence of this result is that in general bigger step-sizes can often be used in actual calculations and/or finite difference schemes can be constructed that are conditionally stable in many instances whereas in using standard techniques no such schemes exist. The theoretical basis of this work is centered on the concepts of ?exact? and ?best? finite difference schemes. In addition, a set of rules is given for the discrete modeling of derivatives and nonlinear expressions that occur in differential equations. These rules often lead to a unique nonstandard finite difference model for a given differential equation.

This book introduces finite difference methods for both ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs) and discusses the similarities and differences between algorithm design and stability analysis for different types of equations. A unified view of stability theory for ODEs and PDEs is presented, and the interplay between ODE and PDE analysis is stressed. The text emphasizes standard classical methods, but several newer approaches also are introduced and are described in the context of simple motivating examples.

This volume provides a concise introduction to the methodology of nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes construction and shows how they can be applied to the numerical integration of differential equations occurring in the natural, biomedical, and engineering sciences. These methods had their genesis in the work of Mickens in the 1990's and are now beginning to be widely studied and applied by other researchers. The importance of the book derives from its clear and direct explanation of NSFD in the introductory chapter along with a broad discussion of the future directions needed to advance the topic.

This definitive introduction to finite element methods was thoroughly updated for this 2007 third edition, which features important material for both research and application of the finite element method. The discussion of saddle-point problems is a highlight of the book and has been elaborated to include many more nonstandard applications. The chapter on applications in elasticity now contains a complete discussion of locking phenomena. The numerical solution of elliptic partial differential equations is an important application of finite elements and the author discusses this subject comprehensively. These equations are treated as variational problems for which the Sobolev spaces are the right framework. Graduate students who do not necessarily have any particular background in differential equations, but require an introduction to finite element methods will find this text invaluable. Specifically, the chapter on finite elements in solid mechanics provides a bridge between mathematics and engineering.

This volume provides a concise introduction to the methodology of nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) schemes construction and shows how they can be applied to the numerical integration of differential equations occurring in the natural, biomedical, and engineering sciences. These methods had their genesis in the work of Mickens in the 1990's and are now beginning to be widely studied and applied by other researchers. The importance of the book derives from its clear and direct explanation of NSFD in the introductory chapter along with a broad discussion of the future directions needed to advance the topic.