Linear differential operators on bivariate spline spaces and spline vector fields

Abstract

We consider the application of standard differentiation operators to spline spaces and spline vector fields defined on triangulations in the plane. In particular, we explore the use of Bernstein–Bezier techniques for answering questions such as: What are the images or the kernels, and their dimensions, of partial derivative, gradient, divergence, curl, or Laplace, operators. We also describe a particular continuous piecewise quadratic finite element whose nodal parameters are function and divergence (or curl) values.