Numerical methods for the solution of special and general sixth-order boundary-value problems, with applications to Bénard layer eigenvalue problems

Abstract

A family of numerical methods is developed for the solution of special nonlinear sixth-order boundary-value problems. Methods with second-, fourth-, sixth- and eighth-order convergence are contained in the family. The problem is also solved by writing the sixth-order differential equation as a system of three second-order differential equations. A family of second- and fourth-order convergent methods is then used to obtain the solution. A second-order convergent method is discussed for the numerical solution of general nonlinear sixth-order boundary-value problems. This method, with modifications where necessary, is applied to the sixth-order eigenvalue problems associated with the onset of instability in a Bénard layer. Numerical results are compared with asymptotic estimates appearing in the literature.