The Best Approximation Method in Computational Mechanics

With the overwhelming use of computers in engineering, science and physics, the approximate solution of complex mathematical systems of equations is almost commonplace. The Best Approximation Method unifies many of the numerical methods used in computational mechanics. Nevertheless, despite the vast quantities of synthetic data there is still some doubt concerning the validity and accuracy of these approximations. This publication assists the computer modeller in his search for the best approximation by presenting functional analysis concepts. Computer programs are provided which can be used by readers with FORTRAN capability. The classes of problems examined include engineering applications, applied mathematics, numerical analysis and computational mechanics. The Best Approximation Method in Computational Mechanics serves as an introduction to functional analysis and mathematical analysis of computer modelling algorithms. It makes computer modellers aware of already established principles and results assembled in functional analysis.

Table of Contents:
1 Topics in Functional Analysis.- 1.0 Introduction.- 1.1 Set Theory.- 1.2 Functions.- 1.3 Matrices.- 1.4 Solving Matrix Systems.- 1.5 Metric Spaces.- 1.6 Linear Spaces.- 1.7 Normed Linear Spaces.- 1.8 Approximations.- 2 Integration Theory.- 2.0 Introduction.- 2.1 Reimann and Lebesgue Integrals: Step and Simple Functions.- 2.2 Lebesgue Measure.- 2.3 Measurable Functions.- 2.4 The Lebesgue Integral.- 2.4.1 Bounded Functions.- 2.4.2 Unbounded Functions.- 2.5 Key Theorems in Integration Theory.- 2.6 Lp Spaces.- 2.6.1 m-Equivalent Functions.- 2.6.2 The Space Lp.- 2.7 The Metric Space, Lp.- 2.8 Convergence of Sequences.- 2.8.1 Common Modes of Convergence.- 2.8.2 Convergence in Lp.- 2.8.3 Convergence in Measure (M).- 2.8.4 Almost Uniform Convergence (AU).- 2.8.5 Is the Approximation Converging?.- 2.8.6 Counterexamples.- 2.9 Capsulation.- 3 Hilbert Space and Generalized Fourier Series.- 3.0 Introduction.- 3.1 Inner Product and Hilbert Space.- 3.2 Best Approximations in an Inner Product Space.- 3.3 Approximations in L2(E).- 3.3.1 Parseval's Identity.- 3.3.2 Bessel's Inequality.- 3.4 Vector Representations and Best Approximations.- 3.5 Computer Program.- 4 Linear Operators.- 4.0 Introduction.- 4.1 Linear Operator Theory.- 4.2 Operator Norms.- 4.3 Examples of Linear Operators in Engineering.- 4.4 Superposition.- 5 The Best Approximation Method.- 5.0 Introduction.- 5.1 An Inner Product for the Solution of Linear Operator Equations.- 5.2 Definition of Inner Product and Norm.- 5.3 Generalized Fourier Series.- 5.4 Approximation Error Evaluation.- 5.5 The Weighted Inner Product.- 5.6 Considerations in Choosing Basis Functions.- 5.6.1 Global Basis Elements.- 5.6.2 Spline Basis Functions.- 5.6.3 Mixed Basis Functions.- 6 The Best Approximation Method: Applications.- 6.0 Introduction.- 6.1 Sensitivity of Computational Results to Variation in the Inner Product Weighting Factor.- 6.2 Solving Two-Dimensional Potential Problems.- 6.3 Application to Other Linear Operators.- 6.4 Computer Program: Two-Dimensional Potential Problems Using Real Variable Basis Functions.- 6.4.1 Introduction.- 6.4.2 Input Data Description.- 6.4.3 Computer Program Listing.- 6.5 Application of Computer Program.- 6.5.1 A Fourth Order Differential Equation.- 7 Solving Potential Problems using the Best Approximation Method.- 7.0 Introduction.- 7.1 The Complex Variable Boundary Element Method.- 7.1.1 Objectives.- 7.1.2 Definition 7.1.1 (Working Space, W?).- 7.1.3 Definition 7.1.2 (the Function ??? to ???2).- 7.1.4 Almost Everywhere (ae) Equality.- 7.1.5 Theorem (relationship of ??? to ???2).- 7.1.6 Theorem.- 7.1.7 Theorem.- 7.2 Mathematical Development.- 7.2.1 Discussion: (A Note on Hardy Spaces).- 7.2.2 Theorem (Boundary Integral Representation).- 7.2.3 Almost Everywhere (ae) Equivalence.- 7.2.4 Theorem (Uniqueness of Zero Element in W?).- 7.2.5 Theorem (W? is a Vector Space).- 7.2.6 Theorem (Definition of the Inner-Product).- 7.2.7 Theorem (W? is an Inner-Product Space).- 7.2.8 Theorem (??? is a Norm on W?).- 7.2.9 Theorem.- 7.3 The CVBEM and W?.- 7.3.1 Definition 7.3.1 (Angle Points).- 7.3.2 Definition 7.3.2 (Boundary Element).- 7.3.3 Theorem.- 7.3.4 Definition 7.3.3 (Linear Basis Function).- 7.3.5 Theorem.- 7.3.6 Definition 7.3.4 (Global Trial Function).- 7.3.7 Theorem.- 7.3.8 Discussion.- 7.3.9 Theorem.- 7.3.10 Discussion.- 7.3.11 Theorem (Linear Independence of Nodal Expansion Functions).- 7.3.12 Discussion.- 7.3.13 Theorem.- 7.3.14 Theorem.- 7.3.15 Discussion.- 7.4 The Space W?A.- 7.4.1 Definition 7.4.1 (W?A).- 7.4.2 Theorem.- 7.4.3 Theorem.- 7.4.4 Discussion.- 7.4.5 Theorem.- 7.4.6 Theorem.- 7.4.7 Discussion: Another Look at W?.- 7.5 Applications.- 7.5.1 Introduction.- 7.5.2 Nodal Point Placement on ?.- 7.5.3 Potential Flow-Field (Flow-Net) Development.- 7.5.4 Approximate Boundary Development.- 7.5.5 Application Problems.- 7.6 Computer Program: Two-Dimensional Potential Problems using Analytic Basis Functions (CVBEM).- 7.6.1 Introduction.- 7.6.2 CVBEM1 Program Listing.- 7.6.3 Input Variable Description for CVBEM1.- 7.6.4 CVBEM2 Program Listing.- 7.7 Modelling Groundwater Contaminant Transport.- 7.7.1 Application 1A.- 7.7.2 Application 1B.- 7.7.3 Application 2A.- 7.7.4 Application 2B.- 7.8 Three Dimensional Potential Problems.- 7.8.1 Approximation Error Evaluation - Approximate Boundary Method.- 7.8.2 Computer Implementation.- 7.8.3 Application.- 7.8.4 Trial Functions.- 7.8.5 Constructing the Approximate Boundary, ?.- 8 Applications to Linear Operator Equations.- 8.0 Introduction.- 8.1 Data Fit Analysis.- 8.2 Ordinary Differential Equations.- 8.3 Best Approximation of Function.- 8.4 Matrix Systems.- 8.5 Linear Partial Differential Equations.- 8.6 Linear Integral Equations.- 8.6.1 An Inverse Problem.- 8.6.2 Best Approximation of the Transfer Function in a Linear Space.- References.- Appendix A Derivation of CVBEM Approximation Function.- Appendix B Convergence of CVBEM Approximator.- Appendix C The Approximate Boundary for Error Analysis.