# discretize.TensorMesh.average_cell_to_edge#

property TensorMesh.average_cell_to_edge#

Averaging operator from cell centers to edges (scalar quantities).

This property constructs an averaging operator that maps scalar quantities from cell centers to edge. This averaging operator is used when a discrete scalar quantity defined cell centers must be projected to edges. Once constructed, the operator is stored permanently as a property of the mesh. See notes.

Returns
(n_edges, n_cells) scipy.sparse.csr_matrix

The scalar averaging operator from edges to cell centers

Notes

Let $$\boldsymbol{\phi_c}$$ be a discrete scalar quantity that lives at cell centers. average_cell_to_edge constructs a discrete linear operator $$\mathbf{A_{ce}}$$ that projects $$\boldsymbol{\phi_c}$$ to edges, i.e.:

$\boldsymbol{\phi_e} = \mathbf{A_{ce}} \, \boldsymbol{\phi_c}$

where $$\boldsymbol{\phi_e}$$ approximates the value of the scalar quantity at the edges. For each edge, we are performing a weighted average between the values at adjacent cell centers. In 1D, where adjacent cells $$i$$ and $$i+1$$ have widths $$h_i$$ and $$h_{i+1}$$, $$\phi$$ on edge (node location in 1D) is approximated by:

$\phi_{i \! + \! 1/2} \approx \frac{h_{i+1} \phi_i + h_i \phi_{i+1}}{h_i + h_{i+1}}$

On boundary edges, nearest neighbour is used to extrapolate the value from the nearest cell center. Once the operator is construct, the averaging is implemented as a matrix vector product, i.e.:

phi_e = Ace @ phi_c


Examples

Here we compute the values of a scalar function at cell centers. We then create an averaging operator to approximate the function on the edges. We choose to define a scalar function that is strongly discontinuous in some places to demonstrate how the averaging operator will smooth out discontinuities.

We start by importing the necessary packages and defining a mesh.

>>> from discretize import TensorMesh
>>> import numpy as np
>>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
>>> h = np.ones(40)
>>> mesh = TensorMesh([h, h], x0="CC")


Then we create a scalar variable at cell centers

>>> phi_c = np.zeros(mesh.nC)
>>> xy = mesh.cell_centers
>>> phi_c[(xy[:, 1] > 0)] = 25.0
>>> phi_c[(xy[:, 1] < -10.0) & (xy[:, 0] > -10.0) & (xy[:, 0] < 10.0)] = 50.0


Next, we construct the averaging operator and apply it to the discrete scalar quantity to approximate the value at the edges.

>>> Ace = mesh.average_cell_to_edge
>>> phi_e = Ace @ phi_c


And plot the results:

Expand to show scripting for plot
>>> fig = plt.figure(figsize=(11, 5))
>>> mesh.plot_image(phi_c, ax=ax1, v_type="CC")
>>> ax1.set_title("Variable at cell centers", fontsize=16)
>>> mesh.plot_image(phi_e, ax=ax2, v_type="E")
>>> ax2.set_title("Averaged to edges", fontsize=16)
>>> plt.show()


Below, we show a spy plot illustrating the sparsity and mapping of the operator.

Expand to show scripting for plot
>>> fig = plt.figure(figsize=(9, 9))