Finite element approximation of a fourth order nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation

We consider a fully practical finite element approximation of the fourth order nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation u(t) + del.(b(u) del Delta u) = 0, where generically b(u) := \u\(p) for any given p is an element of (0, infinity), An iterative scheme for solving the resulting nonlinear discrete system is analysed. In addition to showing well-posedness of our approximation, we prove convergence in one space dimension. Finally some numerical experiments are presented. Mathematics Subject Classification (1991): 65M60, 65M12, 35K55, 35K65, 35K35,76D08.