A New Efficient Hybrid Method Based on FEM and FDM for Solving Burgers’ Equation with Forcing Term

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the numerical solutions of the Burgers’ equation with forcing effects. The article proposes three hybrid methods that combine two-point, three-point, and four-point discretization in time with the Galerkin finite element method in space (TDFEM2, TDFEM3, and TDFEM4). These methods use backward finite difference in time and the finite element method in space to solve the Burgers’ equation. The resulting system of the nonlinear ordinary differential equations is then solved using MATLAB computer codes at each time step. To check the efficiency and accuracy, a comparison between the three methods is carried out by considering the three Burgers’ problems. The accuracy of the methods is expressed in terms of the error norms. The combined methods are advantageous for small viscosity and can produce highly accurate solutions in a shorter time compared to existing numerical schemes in the literature. In contrast to many existing numerical schemes in the literature developed to solve Burgers’ equation, the methods can exhibit the correct physical behavior for very small values of viscosity. It has been demonstrated that the TDFEM2, TDFEM3, and TDFEM4 can be competitive numerical methods for addressing Burgers-type parabolic partial differential equations arising in various fields of science and engineering.