Abstract.One dimensional heat equation with initial and boundary conditions is chosen for consideration. Firstly, replacing the time derivative by first order forward-difference approximation, the partial differential equation is reduced to second order ordinary differential equation at time levels. Secondly, a numerical solution of the ordinary differential equation is investigated by linear finite element method in local coordinate system. Finally, numerical results are obtained on the one dimensional heat equation.

Received: November 14, 2002

AMS Subject Classification: 35K05, 65M60, 65L12

Key Words and Phrases: heat equation, finite elements, finite difference methods

Source: International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics
ISSN: 1311-8080
Year: 2003
Volume: 4
Issue: 4