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Andres E. Rubiano

Publications and source records attributed to Andres E. Rubiano.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Fully mixed virtual element schemes for a new model of steady-state poroelastic stress-assisted diffusion in the brain

We propose a fully mixed virtual element method for the numerical approximation of the coupling between linear poroelasticity equations with strong symmetry of total poroelastic stress (using the Hellinger--Reissner principle) and stress-altered solute diffusion (where diffusive flux depends on the poroelastic stress and nonlinearly on the concentration gradient). Because of the nonlinear coupling, the function spaces associated with the nonlinear diffusion sub-problem are of Banach type. To handle this structure, the solvability of both the continuous and discrete problems is established through a decoupled fixed-point strategy. The linear poroelasticity component is analysed using the theory for perturbed saddle-point problems, whereas the nonlinear diffusion problem, relies on the classical Minty--Browder theorem for monotone global operators. The existence of solutions for the fully coupled system is rigorously proven via Schauder's fixed-point theorem. Additionally, we establish rigorous a priori error estimates for the discrete scheme, successfully handling the strongly cross-coupled nonlinearities. These findings are supported by computational evidence, demonstrating that the formulation asymptotically recovers optimal convergence rates in practice. As a key contribution, both the numerical scheme and its underlying analysis prove to be robust with respect to the poromechanical parameters. Finally, several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the properties and applicability of the proposed scheme in the study of solute transport in the context of brain multiphysics.

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A virtual element method for Kelvin--Voigt viscoelasticity

Considering the computational advantages of virtual element methods (VEM), this work employs a conforming VEM for the numerical approximation of the Kelvin--Voigt model of viscoelasticity. For clarity and simplicity, we focus on the primal formulation. The spatial discretization is carried out using the virtual element method, while the temporal discretization is handled via the {second-order Crank--Nicolson} scheme. We establish the well-posedness of both the semi-discrete and fully discrete problems and derive {\it a priori} error estimates. Several representative numerical examples are presented to validate the theoretical results and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulation.

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Stream function -- pressure virtual element methods for the Stokes--Darcy interface problem

This paper introduces a novel Virtual Element Method (VEM) for the coupled Stokes--Darcy system in primal-primal form. In the free-flow Stokes domain, we implement a stream function formulation that inherently satisfies the incompressibility constraint and reduces computational cost. Across the interface, mass conservation, normal stress balance, and the Beavers--Joseph--Saffman slip condition are enforced to couple the biharmonic stream function equation with the Darcy's pressure equation. Leveraging VEM's ability to handle general polygonal meshes, the proposed method naturally accommodates irregular interface geometries without requiring remeshing or adaptive refinement. The accuracy of the method is validated through several numerical simulations that include applications to dead-end filtration, and network flow in bioartificial organs.

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A posteriori error analysis of a robust virtual element method for stress-assisted diffusion problems

We develop and analyse residual-based a posteriori error estimates for the virtual element discretisation of a nonlinear stress-assisted diffusion problem in two and three dimensions. The model problem involves a two-way coupling between elasticity and diffusion equations in perturbed saddle-point form. A robust global inf-sup condition and Helmholtz decomposition for $\mathbf{H}(\mathrm{div}, Ω)$ lead to a reliable and efficient error estimator based on appropriately weighted norms that ensure parameter robustness. The a posteriori error analysis uses quasi-interpolation operators for Stokes and edge virtual element spaces, and we include the proofs of such operators with estimates in 3D for completeness. Finally, we present numerical experiments in both 2D and 3D to demonstrate the optimal performance of the proposed error estimator.

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Analysis and virtual element discretisation of a Stokes/Biot--Kirchhoff bulk--surface model

We analyse a coupled 3D-2D model with a free fluid governed by Stokes flow in the bulk and a poroelastic plate described by the Biot-Kirchhoff equations on the surface. Assuming the form of a double perturbed saddle-point problem, the unique solvability of the continuous formulation is proved using Fredholm's theory for compact operators and the Babuska--Brezzi approach for saddle-point problems with penalty. We propose a stable virtual element method, establishing a discrete inf-sup condition under a small mesh assumption through a Fortin interpolant that requires only $H^1$-regularity for the Stokes problem. We show the well-posedness of the monolithic discrete formulation and introduce an equivalent fixed-point approach employed at the implementation level. The optimal convergence of the method in the energy norm is proved theoretically and is also confirmed numerically via computational experiments. We demonstrate an application of the model and the proposed scheme in the simulation of immune isolation using encapsulation with silicon nanopore membranes.

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A posteriori error estimates for a $C^1$ virtual element method applied to the thin plate vibration problem

We propose and analyse residual-based a posteriori error estimates for the virtual element discretisation applied to the thin plate vibration problem in both two and three dimensions. Our approach involves a conforming $C^1$ discrete formulation suitable for meshes composed of polygons and polyhedra. The reliability and efficiency of the error estimator are established through a dimension-independent proof. Finally, several numerical experiments are reported to demonstrate the optimal performance of the method in 2D and 3D.

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Robust virtual element methods for 3D stress-assisted diffusion problems

This paper presents an initial exploration of stress-assisted diffusion problems in three dimensions within the framework of the virtual element method (VEM). Hilbert spaces enriched with parameter-weighted norms, the extended Babuška-Brezzi-Braess theory for perturbed saddle-point problems, and Banach fixed-point theory play a crucial role in performing a robust analysis of the fully coupled non-linear system. The proposed virtual element formulations are provided with appropriate projection, interpolation, and stabilisation operators that ensures the well-posedness of the discrete problem. Numerical simulations are conducted to show the accuracy, performance, and applicability of the method.

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Robust virtual element methods for coupled stress-assisted diffusion problems

This paper aims first to perform robust continuous analysis of a mixed nonlinear formulation for stress-assisted diffusion of a solute that interacts with an elastic material, and second to propose and analyse a virtual element formulation of the model problem. The two-way coupling mechanisms between the Herrmann formulation for linear elasticity and the reaction-diffusion equation (written in mixed form) consist of diffusion-induced active stress and stress-dependent diffusion. The two sub-problems are analysed using the extended Babuška--Brezzi--Braess theory for perturbed saddle-point problems. The well-posedness of the nonlinearly coupled system is established using a Banach fixed-point strategy under the smallness assumption on data. The virtual element formulations for the uncoupled sub-problems are proven uniquely solvable by a fixed-point argument in conjunction with appropriate projection operators. We derive the a priori error estimates, and test the accuracy and performance of the proposed method through computational simulations.

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