Lecture plan

The topics included are:

  • Weak formulation of PDEs
  • Finite element methods for elliptic equations
  • Finite element spaces
  • Building finite element approximations
  • Error analysis
  • Parabolic PDEs and energy arguments
  • A posteriori error estimates and adaptivity
  • Discontinuous Galerkin methods
  • Temporal finite element methods
  • (Time permitting) Conservative finite element methods

To be more concise, the curriculum (so far) can be summarised into the following topics.

Topic Title Additional reading
0 Introduction (to the course and finite elements) Brenner & Scott, Chapter 0
1 Weak solutions to PDEs Quarteroni, Chapter 3.3
2 Elliptic finite elements in 1D Quarteroni, Chapter 4.2-4.3
3 Existence and uniqueness Brenner & Scott, Chapter 2
4 Finite elements spaces (in 2D) Brenner & Scott, Chapter 3
5 Implementation Quarteroni, Chapter 8
6 Parabolic PDEs and energy arguments Thomée
7 Finite elements in time Click here
8 Mixed finite elements Brenner & Scott, Chapter 12
9 Nonconforming finite element methods Brenner & Scott, Chapter 15.3
10 A posteriori error estimates Ainsworth & Oden

Note: The lectures are not necessarily based on the "additional reading" resources, and should not be used to replace the lectures.

Schedule

Lectures: Tuesday 14:15-16:00 (R40) and Wednesday 12:15-14:00 (R40).
The lecture content and additional reading will be described as we proceed.

Lecture Topics
20.08 0
21.08 1
27.08 2
28.08 2 / 3
03.09 3
04.09 3
11.09 3 / 4
12.09 4
17.09 4 / 5
18.09 5 / 6
24.09 6
25.09 No lecture
01.10 6
02.10 6
08.10 6 / 7
09.10 7
15.10 7
16.10 8
22.10 8
23.10 8 / 9
29.10 9
30.10 No lecture
05.11 Project class
06.11 No lecture
12.11 Exam preparation
13.11 Project class
19.11 Project presentations
20.11 Project presentations
2024-10-29, James Jackaman