AMGe based on element agglomeration

This paper contains the main ideas for an AMGe ( algebraic multigrid for fi nite elements) method based on element agglomeration. In the method, coarse grid elements are formed by agglomerating ne grid elements. Compatible int erpolation operators are constructed which yield coarse grid basis function s with a minimal energy property. Heuristics based on interpolation quality measures are used to guide the agglomeration procedure. The performance of the resulting method is demonstrated in two-level numerical experiments.