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A finite element method for the computation of parametric minimal surfaces. (English) Zbl 0812.65051

The problem of computing minimal surfaces bounded by a given Jordan curve in space is considered. In a former paper the authors presented a boundary element method to compute discrete approximations. In the present paper the method is extended to a finite element method using piecewise linear elements, which turns out to be more efficient. The method allows to compute unstable minimal surfaces. Numerical results are presented.

MSC:

65K10 Numerical optimization and variational techniques
49M15 Newton-type methods
49Q05 Minimal surfaces and optimization