arXiv subjects

Charalambos Makridakis

Publications and source records attributed to Charalambos Makridakis.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Neural Measures for learning distributions of Random PDEs

The integration of Scientific Machine Learning (SciML) techniques with uncertainty quantification (UQ) represents a rapidly evolving frontier in computational science. This work advances Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) by incorporating probabilistic frameworks to effectively model uncertainty in complex systems. Our approach enhances the representation of uncertainty in forward problems by combining generative modeling techniques with PINNs. This integration enables in a systematic fashion uncertainty control while maintaining the predictive accuracy of the model. We demonstrate the utility of this method through applications to random differential equations and random partial differential equations (PDEs).

stat.ML↗

arXiv2025

Deep Uzawa for Kinetic Transport with Lagrange-Enforced Boundaries

We propose a neural network framework for solving stationary linear transport equations with inflow boundary conditions. The method represents the solution using a neural network and imposes the boundary condition via a Lagrange multiplier, based on a saddle-point formulation inspired by the classical Uzawa algorithm. The scheme is mesh-free, compatible with automatic differentiation and extends naturally to problems with scattering and heterogeneous media. We establish convergence of the continuum formulation and analyse the effects of quadrature error, neural approximation and inexact optimisation in the discrete implementation. Numerical experiments show that the method captures anisotropic transport, enforces boundary conditions and resolves scattering dynamics accurately.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

A class of Discontinuous Galerkin methods for nonlinear variational problems

In the context of Discontinuous Galerkin methods, we study approximations of nonlinear variational problems associated with convex energies. We propose element-wise nonconforming finite element methods to discretize the continuous minimisation problem. Using $Γ$-convergence arguments we show that the discrete minimisers converge to the unique minimiser of the continuous problem as the mesh parameter tends to zero, under the additional contribution of appropriately defined penalty terms at the level of the discrete energies. We finally substantiate the feasibility of our methods by numerical examples.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

Convergence of Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for Quasiconvex and Relaxed Variational Problems

In this work, we establish that discontinuous Galerkin methods are capable of producing reliable approximations for a broad class of nonlinear variational problems. In particular, we demonstrate that these schemes provide essential flexibility by removing inter-element continuity while also guaranteeing convergent approximations in the quasiconvex case. Notably, quasiconvexity is the weakest form of convexity pertinent to elasticity. Furthermore, we show that in the non-convex case discrete minimisers converge to minimisers of the relaxed problem. In this case, the minimisation problem corresponds to the energy defined by the quasiconvex envelope of the original energy. Our approach covers all discontinuous Galerkin formulations known to converge for convex energies. This work addresses an open challenge in the vectorial calculus of variations: developing and rigorously justifying numerical schemes capable of reliably approximating nonlinear energy minimization problems with potentially singular solutions, which are frequently encountered in materials science.

math.NA↗

arXiv2024

Elliptic reconstruction and a posteriori error estimates for fully discrete linear parabolic problems

We derive aposteriori error estimates for fully discrete approximations to solutions of linear parabolic equations on the space-time domain. The space discretization uses finite element spaces, that are allowed to change in time. Our main tool is an appropriate adaptation of the elliptic reconstruction technique, introduced by Makridakis and Nochetto (2003). We derive novel optimal order aposteriori error estimates for the maximum-in-time and mean-square-in-space norm and the mean-square in space-time of the time-derivative norm.

math.NA↗

arXiv2022

Compressive Instabilities Enable Cell-Induced Extreme Densification Patterns in the Fibrous Extracellular Matrix: Discrete Model Predictions

Through modelling and simulations we show that material instabilities play a dominant role in the mechanical behavior of the fibrous collagen Extracellular Matrix (ECM), as observed when the ECM is deformed by contractile biological cells. We compare two families of fiber network models, Family 1 with stable and Family 2 with unstable force-stretch response of individual fibers in compression. The latter is a characteristic of post-buckling of beams with hierarchical structure. Our simulations reveal different compression instabilities at play in each family, namely, fiber collapse (buckling) in Family 2 and fiber element collapse (snap-through) in Family 1. These result in highly localized densification zones consisting of strongly aligned fibers emanating from individual contractile cells or joining neighbouring cells, as observed in experiments. Despite substantial differences in the response of the two families, our work underscores the importance of buckling/compression instabilities in the behavior of fibrous biological tissues, with implications in cancer invasion and metastasis.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2021

Approximations of energy minimization in cell-induced phase transitions of fibrous biomaterials: $Γ$-convergence analysis

We consider a model of energy minimization arising in the study of the mechanical behavior caused by cell contraction within a fibrous biological medium. The macroscopic model is based on the theory of non rank-one convex nonlinear elasticity for phase transitions. We study appropriate numerical approximations based on the discontinuous Galerkin treatment of higher gradients and used succesfully in numerical simulations of experiments. We show that the discrete minimizers converge in the limit to minimizers of the continuous problem. This is achieved by employing the theory of $Γ$-convergence of the approximate energy functionals to the continuous model when the discretization parameter tends to zero. The analysis is involved due to the structure of numerical approximations which are defined in spaces with lower regularity than the space where the minimizers of the continuous variational problem are sought. This fact leads to the development of a new approach to $Γ$-convergence, appropriate for discontinuous finite element discretizations, which can be applied to quite general energy minimization problems. Furthermore, the adoption of exponential terms penalising the interpenetration of matter requires a new framework based on Orlicz spaces for discontinuous Galerkin methods which is developed in this paper as well.

math.NA↗

arXiv2021

Cells exploit a phase transition to mechanically remodel the fibrous extracellular matrix

Through mechanical forces, biological cells remodel the surrounding collagen network, generating striking deformation patterns. Tethers-tracts of high densification and fiber alignment-form between cells, thinner bands emanate from cell clusters. While tethers facilitate cell migration and communication, how they form is unclear. Combining modeling, simulation and experiment, we show that tether formation is a densification phase transition of the extracellular matrix, caused by buckling instability of network fibers under cell-induced compression, featuring unexpected similarities with martensitic microstructures. Multiscale averaging yields a two-phase, bistable continuum energy landscape for fibrous collagen, with a densified/aligned second phase. Simulations predict strain discontinuities between the undensified and densified phase, which localizes within tethers as experimentally observed. In our experiments, active particles induce similar localized patterns as cells. This shows how cells exploit an instability to mechanically remodel the extracellular matrix simply by contracting, thereby facilitating mechanosensing, invasion and metastasis.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2018

Babuška-Osborn techniques in discontinuous Galerkin methods: $L^2$-norm error estimates for unstructured meshes

We prove the inf-sup stability of the interior penalty class of discontinuous Galerkin schemes in unbalanced mesh-dependent norms, under a mesh condition allowing for a general class of meshes, which includes many examples of geometrically graded element neighbourhoods. The inf-sup condition results in the stability of the interior penalty Ritz projection in $L^2$ as well as, for the first time, quasi-best approximations in the $L^2$-norm which in turn imply a priori error estimates that do not depend on the global maximum meshsize in that norm. Some numerical experiments are also given.

math.NA↗

arXiv2014

A posteriori error estimates for leap-frog and cosine methods for second order evolution problems

We consider second order explicit and implicit two-step time-discrete schemes for wave-type equations. We derive optimal order aposteriori estimates controlling the time discretization error. Our analysis, has been motivated by the need to provide aposteriori estimates for the popular leap-frog method (also known as Verlet's method in molecular dynamics literature); it is extended, however, to general cosine-type second order methods. The estimators are based on a novel reconstruction of the time-dependent component of the approximation. Numerical experiments confirm similarity of convergence rates of the proposed estimators and of the theoretical convergence rate of the true error.

math.NA↗

arXiv2014

A posteriori analysis of discontinuous Galerkin schemes for systems of hyperbolic conservation laws

In this work we construct reliable a posteriori estimates for some discontinuous Galerkin schemes applied to nonlinear systems of hyperbolic conservation laws. We make use of appropriate reconstructions of the discrete solution together with the relative entropy stability framework. The methodology we use is quite general and allows for a posteriori control of discontinuous Galerkin schemes with standard flux choices which appear in the approximation of conservation laws. In addition to the analysis, we conduct some numerical benchmarking to test the robustness of the resultant estimator.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

On atomistic-to-continuum couplings without ghost forces in three dimensions

In this paper we construct energy based numerical methods free of ghost forces in three dimensional lattices arising in crystalline materials. The analysis hinges on establishing a connection of the coupled system to conforming finite elements. Key ingredients are: (i) a new representation of discrete derivatives related to long range interactions of atoms as volume integrals of gradients of piecewise linear functions over bond volumes, and (ii) the construction of an underlying globally continuous function representing the coupled modeling method.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

A posteriori $L^\infty(L^2)$-error bounds in finite element approximation of the wave equation

We address the error control of Galerkin discretization (in space) of linear second order hyperbolic problems. More specifically, we derive a posteriori error bounds in the L\infty(L2)-norm for finite element methods for the linear wave equation, under minimal regularity assumptions. The theory is developed for both the space-discrete case, as well as for an implicit fully discrete scheme. The derivation of these bounds relies crucially on carefully constructed space- and time-reconstructions of the discrete numerical solutions, in conjunction with a technique introduced by Baker (1976, SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 13) in the context of a priori error analysis of Galerkin discretization of the wave problem in weaker-than-energy spatial norms.

math.NA↗

arXiv2012

Energy consistent DG methods for the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg system

We design consistent discontinuous Galerkin finite element schemes for the approximation of the Euler-Korteweg and the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg systems. We show that the scheme for the Euler-Korteweg system is energy and mass conservative and that the scheme for the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg system is mass conservative and monotonically energy dissipative. In this case the dissipation is isolated to viscous effects, that is, there is no numerical dissipation. In this sense the methods is consistent with the energy dissipation of the continuous PDE systems.

math.NA↗

arXiv2010

A comparison of duality and energy aposteriori estimates for L?(0,T;L2(Ω)) in parabolic problems

We use the elliptic reconstruction technique in combination with a duality approach to prove aposteriori error estimates for fully discrete back- ward Euler scheme for linear parabolic equations. As an application, we com- bine our result with the residual based estimators from the aposteriori esti- mation for elliptic problems to derive space-error indicators and thus a fully practical version of the estimators bounding the error in the L \infty (0, T ; L2(Ω)) norm. These estimators, which are of optimal order, extend those introduced by Eriksson and Johnson (1991) by taking into account the error induced by the mesh changes and allowing for a more flexible use of the elliptic estima- tors. For comparison with previous results we derive also an energy-based aposteriori estimate for the L \infty (0, T ; L2(Ω))-error which simplifies a previous one given in Lakkis and Makridakis (2006). We then compare both estimators (duality vs. energy) in practical situations and draw conclusions.

math.NA↗

arXiv2007

A posteriori error estimates in the maximum norm for parabolic problems

We derive a posteriori error estimates in the $L_\infty((0,T];L_\infty(Ω))$ norm for approximations of solutions to linear para bolic equations. Using the elliptic reconstruction technique introduced by Makridakis and Nochetto and heat kernel estimates for linear parabolic pr oblems, we first prove a posteriori bounds in the maximum norm for semidiscrete finite element approximations. We then establish a posteriori bounds for a fully discrete backward Euler finite element approximation. The elliptic reconstruction technique greatly simplifies our development by allow\ ing the straightforward combination of heat kernel estimates with existing elliptic maximum norm error estimators.

math.NA↗