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Title: A note on the stability and accuracy of finite difference approximations to differential equations

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/420369· OSTI ID:420369

There are many finite difference approximations to ordinary and partial differential equations, and these vary in their accuracy and stability properties. We examine selected commonly used methods and illustrate their stability and accuracy using both linear stability analysis and numerical examples. We find that the formal order of accuracy alone gives an incomplete picture of the accuracy of the method. Specifically, the Adams-Bashforth and Crank-Nicholson methods are shown to have some undesirable features for both ordinary and partial differential equations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
420369
Report Number(s):
UCRL-ID-125549; ON: DE97050754; TRN: 97:000757
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Sep 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English