Articles | Volume 13, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-229-2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-229-2022
Method article
 | 
28 Jan 2022
Method article |  | 28 Jan 2022

On the choice of finite element for applications in geodynamics

Cedric Thieulot and Wolfgang Bangerth

Model code and software

ASPECT: Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth's ConvecTion ASPECT developers https://aspect.geodynamics.org/

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Short summary
One of the main numerical methods to solve the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations in geodynamics is the finite-element method. Four main types of elements have been used in the past decades in hundreds of publications. For the first time we compare results obtained with these four elements on a series of geodynamical benchmarks and applications and draw conclusions as to which are the best ones and which are to be preferably avoided.