Radially Projected Finite Elements
A. J. Meir, Necibe Tuncer · SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing · 2009
We describe and analyze a new finite element discretization for domains with spheroidal geometry. In particular, we describe how the method can be used to approximate solutions as well as eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of partial differential equations posed on the sphere, ellipsoidal shells, and cylindrical shells. These novel, so-called “radially projected finite elements” are particularly attractive for numerical simulations since the resulting finite element discretization is “logically rectangular” and may be easily implemented or incorporated into existing finite element codes.