This textbook teaches finite element methods from a computational point of view. It focuses on how to develop flexible computer programs with Python, a programming language in which a combination of symbolic and numerical tools is used to achieve an explicit and practical derivation of finite element algorithms. The finite element library FEniCS is used throughout the book, but the content is provided in sufficient detail to ensure that students with less mathematical background or mixed programming-language experience will equally benefit. All program examples are available on the Internet.

Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations: An Introduction Vitoriano Ruas, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC - Université Paris 6, France A comprehensive overview of techniques for the computational solution of PDE's Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations: An Introduction covers the three most popular methods for solving partial differential equations: the finite difference method, the finite element method and the finite volume method. The book combines clear descriptions of the three methods, their reliability, and practical implementation aspects. Justifications for why numerical methods for the main classes of PDE's work or not, or how well they work, are supplied and exemplified. Aimed primarily at students of Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Chemistry among others this book offers a substantial insight into the principles numerical methods in this class of problems are based upon. The book can also be used as a reference for research work on numerical methods for PDE’s. Key features: A balanced emphasis is given to both practical considerations and a rigorous mathematical treatment The reliability analyses for the three methods are carried out in a unified framework and in a structured and visible manner, for the basic types of PDE's Special attention is given to low order methods, as practitioner's overwhelming default options for everyday use New techniques are employed to derive known results, thereby simplifying their proof Supplementary material is available from a companion website.

On the occasion of this new edition, the text was enlarged by several new sections. Two sections on B-splines and their computation were added to the chapter on spline functions: Due to their special properties, their flexibility, and the availability of well-tested programs for their computation, B-splines play an important role in many applications. Also, the authors followed suggestions by many readers to supplement the chapter on elimination methods with a section dealing with the solution of large sparse systems of linear equations. Even though such systems are usually solved by iterative methods, the realm of elimination methods has been widely extended due to powerful techniques for handling sparse matrices. We will explain some of these techniques in connection with the Cholesky algorithm for solving positive definite linear systems. The chapter on eigenvalue problems was enlarged by a section on the Lanczos algorithm; the sections on the LR and QR algorithm were rewritten and now contain a description of implicit shift techniques. In order to some extent take into account the progress in the area of ordinary differential equations, a new section on implicit differential equa tions and differential-algebraic systems was added, and the section on stiff differential equations was updated by describing further methods to solve such equations.

When Herb Keller suggested, more than two years ago, that we update our lectures held at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in 1977, and then have it published in the collection Springer Series in Computational Physics, we thought, at first, that it would be an easy task. Actually, we realized very quickly that it would be more complicated than what it seemed at first glance, for several reasons: 1. The first version of Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Variational Problems was, in fact, part of a set of monographs on numerical mat- matics published, in a short span of time, by the Tata Institute of Fun- mental Research in its well-known series Lectures on Mathematics and Physics; as might be expected, the first version systematically used the material of the above monographs, this being particularly true for Lectures on the Finite Element Method by P. G. Ciarlet and Lectures on Optimization—Theory and Algorithms by J. Cea. This second version had to be more self-contained. This necessity led to some minor additions in Chapters I-IV of the original version, and to the introduction of a chapter (namely, Chapter Y of this book) on relaxation methods, since these methods play an important role in various parts of this book.

Introduces readers to the fundamentals and applications of variational formulations in mechanics Nearly 40 years in the making, this book provides students with the foundation material of mechanics using a variational tapestry. It is centered around the variational structure underlying the Method of Virtual Power (MVP). The variational approach to the modeling of physical systems is the preferred approach to address complex mathematical modeling of both continuum and discrete media. This book provides a unified theoretical framework for the construction of a wide range of multiscale models. Introduction to the Variational Formulation in Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications enables readers to develop, on top of solid mathematical (variational) bases, and following clear and precise systematic steps, several models of physical systems, including problems involving multiple scales. It covers: Vector and Tensor Algebra; Vector and Tensor Analysis; Mechanics of Continua; Hyperelastic Materials; Materials Exhibiting Creep; Materials Exhibiting Plasticity; Bending of Beams; Torsion of Bars; Plates and Shells; Heat Transfer; Incompressible Fluid Flow; Multiscale Modeling; and more. A self-contained reader-friendly approach to the variational formulation in the mechanics Examines development of advanced variational formulations in different areas within the field of mechanics using rather simple arguments and explanations Illustrates application of the variational modeling to address hot topics such as the multiscale modeling of complex material behavior Presentation of the Method of Virtual Power as a systematic tool to construct mathematical models of physical systems gives readers a fundamental asset towards the architecture of even more complex (or open) problems Introduction to the Variational Formulation in Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications is a ideal book for advanced courses in engineering and mathematics, and an excellent resource for researchers in engineering, computational modeling, and scientific computing.

This book provides an extensive introduction to numerical computing from the viewpoint of backward error analysis. The intended audience includes students and researchers in science, engineering and mathematics. The approach taken is somewhat informal owing to the wide variety of backgrounds of the readers, but the central ideas of backward error and sensitivity (conditioning) are systematically emphasized. The book is divided into four parts: Part I provides the background preliminaries including floating-point arithmetic, polynomials and computer evaluation of functions; Part II covers numerical linear algebra; Part III covers interpolation, the FFT and quadrature; and Part IV covers numerical solutions of differential equations including initial-value problems, boundary-value problems, delay differential equations and a brief chapter on partial differential equations. The book contains detailed illustrations, chapter summaries and a variety of exercises as well some Matlab codes provided online as supplementary material. “I really like the focus on backward error analysis and condition. This is novel in a textbook and a practical approach that will bring welcome attention." Lawrence F. Shampine A Graduate Introduction to Numerical Methods and Backward Error Analysis” has been selected by Computing Reviews as a notable book in computing in 2013. Computing Reviews Best of 2013 list consists of book and article nominations from reviewers, CR category editors, the editors-in-chief of journals, and others in the computing community.