COMPARISON OF VARIATIONAL COARSE-MESH METHODS.

Three variational coarse-mesh methods were formulated for the solution of few-group diffusion equations. Each corresponds to a different modification of the same functional. The resulting equations closely resemble incompatible finite element, nodal, and response matrix methods. In one dimension, the nodal method yields superior results. Preliminary analysis indicates that the variational nodal method also has significant potential for multidimensional problems, and that it may also serve as a basis for even-parity nodal transport methods.