4 Papers

NAMay 30, 2007
Enhancing SPH using moving least-squares and radial basis functions

R. A. Brownlee, P. Houston, J. Levesley et al.

In this paper we consider two sources of enhancement for the meshfree Lagrangian particle method smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) by improving the accuracy of the particle approximation. Namely, we will consider shape functions constructed using: moving least-squares approximation (MLS); radial basis functions (RBF). Using MLS approximation is appealing because polynomial consistency of the particle approximation can be enforced. RBFs further appeal as they allow one to dispense with the smoothing-length -- the parameter in the SPH method which governs the number of particles within the support of the shape function. Currently, only ad hoc methods for choosing the smoothing-length exist. We ensure that any enhancement retains the conservative and meshfree nature of SPH. In doing so, we derive a new set of variationally-consistent hydrodynamic equations. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of the new equations on the Sod shock tube problem.

NAMay 30, 2007
Extending the range of error estimates for radial approximation in Euclidean space and on spheres

R. A. Brownlee, E. H. Georgoulis, J. Levesley

We adapt Schaback's error doubling trick [R. Schaback. Improved error bounds for scattered data interpolation by radial basis functions. Math. Comp., 68(225):201--216, 1999.] to give error estimates for radial interpolation of functions with smoothness lying (in some sense) between that of the usual native space and the subspace with double the smoothness. We do this for both bounded subsets of R^d and spheres. As a step on the way to our ultimate goal we also show convergence of pseudoderivatives of the interpolation error.

NAMay 30, 2007
Error estimates for interpolation of rough data using the scattered shifts of a radial basis function

R. A. Brownlee

The error between appropriately smooth functions and their radial basis function interpolants, as the interpolation points fill out a bounded domain in R^d, is a well studied artifact. In all of these cases, the analysis takes place in a natural function space dictated by the choice of radial basis function -- the native space. The native space contains functions possessing a certain amount of smoothness. This paper establishes error estimates when the function being interpolated is conspicuously rough.

NAMay 30, 2007
Approximation orders for interpolation by surface splines to rough functions

R. A. Brownlee, W. A. Light

In this paper we consider the approximation of functions by radial basis function interpolants. There is a plethora of results about the asymptotic behaviour of the error between appropriately smooth functions and their interpolants, as the interpolation points fill out a bounded domain in R^d. In all of these cases, the analysis takes place in a natural function space dictated by the choice of radial basis function - the native space. In many cases, the native space contains functions possessing a certain amount of smoothness. We address the question of what can be said about these error estimates when the function being interpolated fails to have the required smoothness. These are the rough functions of the title. We limit our discussion to surface splines, as an exemplar of a wider class of radial basis functions, because we feel our techniques are most easily seen and understood in this setting.