Adaptive cell-centered finite volume method for diffusion equations on a consistent quadtree grid

Abstract

Models applied in image processing are often described by nonlinear PDEs in which a good approximation of gradient plays an important role especially in such cases where irregular finite volume grids are used. In image processing, such a situation can occur during a coarsening based on quadtree grids. We present a construction of a deformed quadtree grid in which the connection of representative points of two adjacent finite volumes is perpendicular to their common boundary enabling us to apply the classical finite volume methods. On the other hand, for such an adjusted grid, the intersection of representative points connection with a finite volume boundary is not a middle point of their common edge and standard methods cannot achieve a good accuracy. In this paper we present a new cell-centered finite volume method to evaluate solution gradients, which results into a solution of a simple linear algebraic system and we prove its unique solvability. Finally we present numerical experiments for the regularized Perona-Malik model in which we applied this new method.