We propose a Lagrangian approach to deriving energy-preserving finite difference schemes for the Euler–Lagrange partial differential equations. Noether’s theorem states that the symmetry of time translation of Lagrangians yields the energy conservation law. We introduce a unique viewpoint on this theorem: “the symmetry of time translation of Lagrangians derives the Euler–Lagrange equation and the energy conservation law, simultaneously.” The proposed method is a combination of a discrete counter part of this statement and the discrete gradient method. It is also shown that the symmetry of space translation derives momentum-preserving schemes. Finally, we discuss the existence of discrete local conservation laws.

Our concern is the computation of optimal shapes in problems involving(−Δ)1/2. We focus on the energyJ(Ω) associated to the solution uΩ of thebasic Dirichlet problem( − Δ)1/2uΩ = 1in Ω, u = 0 in Ωc. We show that regularminimizers Ω of this energy under a volume constraint are disks. Our proof goes throughthe explicit computation of the shape derivative (that seems to be completely new in thefractional context), and a refined adaptation of the moving plane method.

We propose an unconditionally stable semi-implicit time discretization of the phase fieldcrystal evolution. It is based on splitting the underlying energy into convex and concaveparts and then performing H-1 gradient descent steps implicitly for the formerand explicitly for the latter. The splitting is effected in such a way that the resultingequations are linear in each time step and allow an extremely simple implementation andefficient solution. We provide the associated stability and error analysis as well asnumerical experiments to validate the method’s efficiency.

Using Burgers’ equation with mixed Neumann–Dirichlet boundary conditions, we highlight aproblem that can arise in the numerical approximation of nonlinear dynamical systems oncomputers with a finite precision floating point number system. We describe the dynamicalsystem generated by Burgers’ equation with mixed boundary conditions, summarize some ofits properties and analyze the equilibrium states for finite dimensional dynamical systemsthat are generated by numerical approximations of this system. It is important to notethat there are two fundamental differences between Burgers’ equation with mixedNeumann–Dirichlet boundary conditions and Burgers’ equation with both Dirichlet boundaryconditions. First, Burgers’ equation with homogenous mixed boundary conditions on a finiteinterval cannot be linearized by the Cole–Hopf transformation. Thus, on finite intervalsBurgers’ equation with a homogenous Neumann boundary condition is truly nonlinear. Second,the nonlinear term in Burgers’ equation with a homogenous Neumann boundary condition isnot conservative. This structure plays a key role in understanding the complex dynamicsgenerated by Burgers’ equation with a Neumann boundary condition and how this structureimpacts numerical approximations. The key point is that, regardless of the particularnumerical scheme, finite precision arithmetic will always lead to numerically generatedequilibrium states that do not correspond to equilibrium states of the Burgers’ equation.In this paper we establish the existence and stability properties of these numericalstationary solutions and employ a bifurcation analysis to provide a detailed mathematicalexplanation of why numerical schemes fail to capture the correct asymptotic dynamics. Weextend the results in [E. Allen, J.A. Burns, D.S. Gilliam, J. Hill and V.I. Shubov,Math. Comput. Modelling 35 (2002) 1165–1195] and provethat the effect of finite precision arithmetic persists in generating a nonzero numericalfalse solution to the stationary Burgers’ problem. Thus, we show that the results obtainedin [E. Allen, J.A. Burns, D.S. Gilliam, J. Hill and V.I. Shubov, Math. Comput.Modelling 35 (2002) 1165–1195] are not dependent on a specifictime marching scheme, but are generic to all convergent numerical approximations ofBurgers’ equation.

Nous étudions l’effet d’une couche mince rugueuse périodique déposée sur une structuresemi-infinie, dans le contexte Helmholtz bi-dimensionnel. Formellement, nous obtenons desconditions de transmission équivalentes à l’ordre 1, par des techniques de typehomogénéisation. Suivent alors la résolution du problème du milieu effectif éclairé parune onde plane, et le calcul de la fonction de Green effective ; le tout par analyse deFourier. Dans un deuxième temps, nous considérons le problème de diffraction par un objetpénétrable enfoui dans la structure recouverte par la couche rugueuse. Nous le résolvonspar la méthode des éléments finis de frontière, dans le milieu effectif. Des résultatsnumériques sont présentés. Enfin, le modèle effectif est validé dans le cas d’une coucheplate, et l’approximation de Born est utilisée pour tester le code des équationsintégrales.

In this work we study a fully discrete mixed scheme, based on continuous finite elementsin space and a linear semi-implicit first-order integration in time, approximating anEricksen–Leslie nematic liquid crystal model by means of aGinzburg–Landau penalized problem. Conditional stability of this schemeis proved via a discrete version of the energy law satisfied by thecontinuous problem, and conditional convergence towards generalized Young measure-valuedsolutions to the Ericksen–Leslie problem is showed when the discreteparameters (in time and space) and the penalty parameter go to zero at the same time.Finally, we will show some numerical experiences for a phenomenon of annihilation ofsingularities.

Cultivating oleaginous microalgae in specific culturing devices such as raceways is seenas a future way to produce biofuel. The complexity of this process coupling non linearbiological activity to hydrodynamics makes the optimization problem very delicate. Thelarge amount of parameters to be taken into account paves the way for a usefulmathematical modeling. Due to the heterogeneity of raceways along the depth dimensionregarding temperature, light intensity or nutrients availability, we adopt a multilayerapproach for hydrodynamics and biology. For free surface hydrodynamics, we use amultilayer Saint–Venant model that allows mass exchanges, forced by a simplifiedrepresentation of the paddlewheel. Then, starting from an improved Droop model thatincludes light effect on algae growth, we derive a similar multilayer system for thebiological part. A kinetic interpretation of the whole system results in an efficientnumerical scheme. We show through numerical simulations in two dimensions that ourapproach is capable of discriminating between situations of mixed water or calm andheterogeneous pond. Moreover, we exhibit that a posteriori treatment ofour velocity fields can provide lagrangian trajectories which are of great interest toassess the actual light pattern perceived by the algal cells and therefore understand itsimpact on the photosynthesis process.

An extension of the local projection stabilization (LPS) finite element method for convection-diffusion-reaction equations is presented and analyzed, both in the steady-state and the transient setting. In addition to the standard LPS method, a nonlinear crosswind diffusion term is introduced that accounts for the reduction of spurious oscillations. The existence of a solution can be proved and, depending on the choice of the stabilization parameter, also its uniqueness. Error estimates are derived which are supported by numerical studies. These studies demonstrate also the reduction of the spurious oscillations.

We consider a bilinear optimal control problem for a von Kármán plate equation. The control is a function of the spatial variables and acts as a multiplier of the velocity term. We first state the existence of solutions for the von Kármán equation and then derive optimality conditions for a given objective functional. Finally, we show the uniqueness of the optimal control.

We consider a Canham − Helfrich − type variational problem defined over closed surfacesenclosing a fixed volume and having fixed surface area. The problem models the shape ofmultiphase biomembranes. It consists of minimizing the sum of the Canham − Helfrichenergy, in which the bending rigidities and spontaneous curvatures are nowphase-dependent, and a line tension penalization for the phase interfaces. By restrictingattention to axisymmetric surfaces and phase distributions, we extend our previous resultsfor a single phase [R. Choksi and M. Veneroni, Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ.(2012). DOI:10.1007/s00526-012-0553-9] and prove existence of a globalminimizer.

We analyse the steady-state operation of a continuous flow bioreactor in which the biochemical reaction is governed by noncompetitive substrate inhibition (Andrews kinetics). A generalized reactor model is used in which the well-stirred bioreactor and the idealized membrane bioreactor are special cases. As generic properties of systems subject to substrate inhibition have been obtained by other authors, we discuss reaction engineering features specific to Andrews kinetics.