Error analysis of finite difference/collocation method for the nonlinear coupled parabolic free boundary problem modeling plaque growth in the artery

Abstract

The main target of this paper is to present a new and efficient method to solve a nonlinear free boundary mathematical model of atherosclerosis. This model consists of three parabolic, one elliptic and one ordinary differential equations that are coupled together and describes the growth of a plaque in the artery. We start our discussion by using the front fixing method to fix the free domain and simplify the model by changing the mixed boundary condition to a Neumann one by applying suitable changes of variables. Then, after employing a finite difference using the second-order backward difference formula (BDF2) and the collocation method on this model, we prove the stability and convergence of methods. Finally, some numerical results are considered to show the efficiency of the method.