Least-Squares Finite Element Methods

Since their emergence finite element methods have become one of the most versatile and powerful methodologies for the approximate numerical solution of PDEs. Today finite element methods are in common use for incompressible fluid flow, heat, transfer, electromagnetics, and convection-diffusion-reaction problems, to name a few. This book is written with the premise that there is a real, existing need to put least-squares finite elemenet methods on a common mathematically sound foundation. It is intended to give both the researcher and the practitioner a concise guide to the theory and practice of least-square finite element methods, their strengths and weaknesses, established successes, and open problems. Appendices provide results from functional analysis and standard finite theory which are used in various places in the book.