Finite-difference technique based on exponential splines for the solution of obstacle problems

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a new technique based on cubic exponential spline functions for computing approximations to the solution of a system of fourth-order boundary value problems associated with obstacle, unilateral and contact problems. It is shown that the present method is of order two and four and gives approximations which are better than those produced by other collocation, finite difference and spline methods. Numerical evidence is presented to illustrate the applicability of the new methods.