Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Many classical and modern finite element spaces are derived by dividing each computational cell into finer pieces. Such macroelements frequently enable the enforcement of mathematically desirable properties such as divergence-free conditions or \(C^{1}\) continuity in a simpler or more efficient manner than elements without the subdivision. Although a few modern software projects provide one-off support for particular macroelements, a general approach facilitating broad-based support has, until now, been lacking. In this work, we describe a major addition to the FIAT project to support a wide range of different macroelements. These enhancements have been integrated into the Firedrake code stack. We provide numerical evaluation of the new macroelement facility.
DOI: 10.1145/3797879
Authors: Pablo D. Brubeck, Robert C. Kirby
Institutions: University of Oxford, Baylor University
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Mechanics
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7128770650