NPTEL Syllabus

The Mathematical Theory of Finite

Elements - Video course

COURSE OUTLINE

NPTEL
Sobolev Spaces- basic concepts, Elliptic boundary value problems, Variational
Formulation, Construction of finite element spaces, Examples of finite element
spaces, Polynomial interpolation and approximation errors, Cea’s lemma,
Convergence analysis, Aubin-Nitsche duality arguments, Computation of finite http://nptel.iitm.ac.in
element solutions, Variational crimes, Parabolic initial and boundary value
problems, Semi discrete and fully discrete schemes with convergence analysis.

COURSE DETAIL
Mathematics

Module Topic/s Lectures

No. Pre-requisites:

Partial differential equations,

1 Sobolev Spaces- basic concepts 4 Functional Analysis, Numerical
analysis.
Distributional derivatives, Sobolev spaces, Friedrich’s-
Poincare inequality.
Additional Reading:
2 E l l i p t i c boundary value problems, Variational 8 1. Finite Element Methods and their
Formulation Applications by Z. Chen ,
Springer.
Abstract variational formulation, Galerkin and Ritz
formulations, Lax-Milgram lemma, Examples of second 2. Partial Differntial Equations with
order and fourth order boundary value problems. Numerical Methods by S.
Larsson, V. Thomee, Springer.
3 Finite Element Formulation 6
3. Topics in Functional Analysis
Basic aspects of the finite element method, construction and Applications by S. Kesavan ,
of finite element spaces, Definition and examples of finite New Age International.
elements.
Coordinators:
4 Convergence Analysis 6
Prof. A. K. Pani
Galerkin orthogonality property, Cea’s lemma, Department of MathematicsIIT Bombay
Polynomial interpolants, Error estimates, Aubin-Nitsche
duality arguments, L2 error estimates.

5 Computation of finite element solutions 4

Element stiffness matrices, Global stiffness matrix,

Assembly, Solution.

6 Vartiational Crimes 7

Isoparametric finite elements, Discontinuous finite

elements.

7 Parabolic initial and boundary value problems 5

Semi-discrete Galerkin finite element methods for

parabolic problems, Completely discrete schemes, Error
estimates.

References:
 1. The Mathematical Theory of Finite Element Methods by S.C. Brenner &
L.R. Scott, (third edition), Springer.

2. The Finite Element Method for Elliptic Problems: Studies in Mathematics

and its Applications -4 by P.G. Ciarlet, North Holland Publishing Company.

3. Galerkin Finite Element Methods for Parabolic Problems by Vidar Thomee

(second edition), Springer .

A joint venture by IISc and IITs, funded by MHRD, Govt of India http://nptel.iitm.ac.in