SEMINAR

Elephants and Numerical Modeling Methods

We view the current state of numerical methods for realistic simulations like the proverbial blind men trying to describe an elephant. We show via asymptotic analysis that the slow time drift of non-constant coefficients introduces serious simulation errors. Further, the mathematical convergence is show to be distinctly different from convergence for a given set of initial conditions which contain instrument error. Hence convergence and accuracy, two cornerstones of numerical analysis, are shown to be misleading indicators of the performance of a simulation. Finally, examples of methods designed to avoid some of these pitfalls are discussed.

WHERE: TEC 340

WHEN(day): Friday, January 30th, 1998

WHEN(time): 2:00 - 2:50 PM

EVERYBODY IS INVITED