Numerical exploration of a forward-backward diffusion equation

Pauline Lafitte (1, 2, 3) , Corrado Mascia (4)

1 SIMPAF - SImulations and Modeling for PArticles and Fluids
2 LPP - Laboratoire Paul Painlevé - UMR 8524
3 MAS - Mathématiques Appliquées aux Systèmes - EA 4037
4 UNIROMA - Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" = Sapienza University [Rome]

We analyze numerically a forward-backward diffusion equation with a cubic-like diffusion function, -emerging in the framework of phase transitions modeling- and its "entropy" formulation determined by considering it as the singular limit of a third-order pseudo-parabolic equation. Precisely, we propose schemes for both the second and the third order equations, we discuss the analytical properties of their semi-discrete counter-parts and we compare the numerical results in the case of initial data of Riemann type, showing strengths and flaws of the two approaches, the main emphasis being given to the propagation of transition interfaces.

Mots clés: Phase transition; Pseudo-parabolic equations; Numerical approximation; Finite differences.

Mots clés: Finite differences

Domaines: Equations aux dérivées partielles [math.AP]; Analyse numérique [math.NA]

Pauline Lafitte, Corrado Mascia. Numerical exploration of a forward-backward diffusion equation. Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences, 2012, 22 (06), pp.1250004. ⟨10.1142/S0218202512500042⟩. ⟨hal-00512508⟩