Error analysis of a compact finite difference method for fourth-order nonlinear elliptic boundary value problems

This paper is concerned with a compact finite difference method with non-isotropic mesh sizes for a two-dimensional fourth-order nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem. By the discrete energy analysis, the optimal error estimates in the discrete L², H¹ and L^∞ norms are obtained without any constraint on the mesh sizes. The error estimates show that the compact finite difference method converges with the convergence rate of fourth-order. Based on a high-order approximation of the solution, a Richardson extrapolation algorithm is developed to make the final computed solution sixth-order accurate. Numerical results demonstrate the high-order accuracy of the compact finite difference method and its extrapolation algorithm in the discrete L², H¹ and L^∞ norms.