On a variational method for stiff differential equations arising from chemistry kinetics

For the approximation of stiff systems of ODEs arising from chemistry kinetics, implicit integrators emerge as good candidates. This paper proposes a variational approach for this type of systems. In addition to introducing the technique, we present its most basic properties and test its numerical performance through some experiments. The main advantage with respect to other implicit methods is that our approach has a global convergence. The other approaches need to ensure convergence of the iterative scheme used to approximate the associated nonlinear equations that appear for the implicitness. Notice that these iterative methods, for these nonlinear equations, have bounded basins of attraction.Proyecto financiado por la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia a través de la convocatoria de Ayudas a proyectos para el desarrollo de investigación científica y técnica por grupos competitivos, incluida en el Programa Regional de Fomento de la Investigación Científica y Técnica (Plan de Actuación 2018) de la Fundación Séneca-Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia 20928/PI/18, MTM2015-64382-P (MINECO/FEDER)