Understanding and Implementing the Finite Element Method
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Author(s): M. S. Gockenbach
Publisher: SIAM
ISBN: 0898716144
Format: softback
363pp
Price: $87.00
Review Date: 03 October 2006
Review: The finite element (FE) method is the most popular general-purpose technique for computing accurate solutions to partial differential equations (PDEs). This book explains how to write finite element code from scratch and includes a collection of MATLAB programs that implement the ideas presented in the book. The first part of the book provides the basic framework for stationary problems (discussing some model PDEs, the weak form of a boundary value problem (BVP), the Galerkin method, piecewise polynomials, and the convergence of the FE method). The second part deals with data structures and implementation (the mesh data structure, Lagrange triangles, the FE method for BVPs). Part Three looks at solving finite element equations and Part Four at adaptive methods (mesh generation, error estimates and indicators).