Theory and internal structure of ADER-DG method for partial differential equations

Abstract

Highly accurate stability boundary values for the ADER-DG method are obtained for arbitrary degrees $N$ of basis polynomials. In the linear case, stability is violated precisely when one of the matrix eigenvalues reaches $λ= -1$, regardless of the phase $θ$. A rigorous mathematical framework for the stability is developed. The stability condition is significantly simplified, reducing it to the problem of calculating the roots of polynomials in the Courant number $\mathrm{CFL}$. The maximum of the Courant numbers $\mathrm{CFL}_{\rm max}(N)$ are calculated. These results are new and very convenient for practical use. A comparison of the obtained results with existing results reveals differences that may be significant for the selection of calculation parameters, especially for high degrees $N$. It is shown that widely used existing estimates $\mathrm{CFL}_{\rm max}(N) \propto 1/(2N+1)$ are overestimated. An interesting qualitative asymptotic $\mathrm{CFL}_{\rm max}(N) \propto 1/(N+1)^{2}$ is obtained. A rigorous direct proof of the approximation is presented. Approximation orders $p = N+1$ for arbitrary degrees $N$ are rigorously derived. A set of numerical experiments is carried out to apply the ADER-DG method to solving both a linear advection equation and an Euler system of equations. The results obtained in these calculations confirm the theoretical results well. In particular, an excess of the Courant number over the $\mathrm{CFL}_{\rm max}(N)$ by even 1% in the linear case immediately leads to significant instability of the numerical solution. The obtained estimates of the boundary Courant number in the nonlinear case are somewhat underestimated -- by no more than 5%, which is due to the diffusivity and stability of the approximate Riemann solver. Empirical convergence orders are obtained, which are in good agreement with the theoretical results.