Comparison of Finite Difference and Finite Element Methods

Abstract

A paper which purports to make a comparison between finite difference and finite element methods is doomed to be met with much criticism. The reason for this inevitable fate is that a study such as this must contain a high degree of subjectivity which many readers will have cause to disagree with. Issues such as ulterior motives of the author, the proficiency of a computer programmer, the blurring of features which distinguish finite element from finite difference methods and the reader’s own biases or preferences make presentation of a satisfactorily complete and inoffensive comparison of these two numerical techniques virtually impossible.