An a posteriori residual error estimator for the finite element method on anisotropic tetrahedral meshes

Summary. A new a posteriori residual error estimator is defined and rigorously analysed for anisotropic tetrahedral finite element meshes. All considerations carry over to anisotropic triangular meshes with minor changes only. The lower error bound is obtained by means of bubble functions and the corresponding anisotropic inverse inequalities. In order to prove the upper error bound, it is vital that an anisotropic mesh corresponds to the anisotropic function under consideration. To measure this correspondence, a so-called matching function is defined, and its discussion shows it to be a useful tool. With its help anisotropic interpolation estimates and subsequently the upper error bound are proven. Additionally it is pointed out how to treat Robin boundary conditions in a posteriori error analysis on isotropic and anisotropic meshes. A numerical example supports the anisotropic error analysis. Received April 6, 1999 / Revised version received July 2, 1999 / Published online June 8, 2000     

A minimal stabilisation procedure for mixed finite element methods

Summary. Stabilisation methods are often used to circumvent the difficulties associated with the stability of mixed finite element methods. Stabilisation however also means an excessive amount of dissipation or the loss of nice conservation properties. It would thus be desirable to reduce these disadvantages to a minimum. We present a general framework, not restricted to mixed methods, that permits to introduce a minimal stabilising term and hence a minimal perturbation with respect to the original problem. To do so, we rely on the fact that some part of the problem is stable and should not be modified. Sections 2 and 3 present the method in an abstract framework. Section 4 and 5 present two classes of stabilisations for the inf-sup condition in mixed problems. We present many examples, most arising from the discretisation of flow problems. Section 6 presents examples in which the stabilising terms is introduced to cure coercivity problems. Received August 9, 1999 / Revised version received May 19, 2000 / Published online March 20, 2001     

A posteriori error estimates for mixed FEM in elasticity

A residue based reliable and efficient error estimator is established for finite element solutions of mixed boundary value problems in linear, planar elasticity. The proof of the reliability of the estimator is based on Helmholtz type decompositions of the error in the stress variable and a duality argument for the error in the displacements. The efficiency follows from inverse estimates. The constants in both estimates are independent of the Lamé constant , and so locking phenomena for are properly indicated. The analysis justifies a new adaptive algorithm for automatic mesh–refinement. Received July 17, 1997     

Superconvergence and a posteriori error estimation for triangular mixed finite elements

Summary. In this paper,we prove superconvergence results for the vector variable when lowest order triangular mixed finite elements of Raviart-Thomas type [17] on uniform triangulations are used, i.e., that the -distance between the approximate solution and a suitable projection of the real solution is of higher order than the -error. We prove results for both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. Recently, Duran [9] proved similar results for rectangular mixed finite elements, and superconvergence along the Gauss-lines for rectangular mixed finite elements was considered by Douglas, Ewing, Lazarov and Wang in [11], [8] and [18]. The triangular case however needs some extra effort. Using the superconvergence results, a simple postprocessing of the approximate solution will give an asymptotically exact a posteriori error estimator for the -error in the approximation of the vector variable. Received December 6, 1992 / Revised version received October 2, 1993     

Mixed hp finite element methods for problems in elasticity and Stokes flow

Summary. We consider the mixed formulation for the elasticity problem and the limiting Stokes problem in , . We derive a set of sufficient conditions under which families of mixed finite element spaces are simultaneously stable with respect to the mesh size and, subject to a maximum loss of , with respect to the polynomial degree . We obtain asymptotic rates of convergence that are optimal up to in the displacement/velocity and up to in the "pressure", with arbitrary (both rates being optimal with respect to ). Several choices of elements are discussed with reference to properties desirable in the context of the -version. Received March 4, 1994 / Revised version received February 12, 1995     

Superconvergence analysis and error expansion for the Wilson nonconforming finite element

Summary. In this paper the Wilson nonconforming finite element is considered for solving a class of two-dimensional second-order elliptic boundary value problems. Superconvergence estimates and error expansions are obtained for both uniform and non-uniform rectangular meshes. A new lower bound of the error shows that the usual error estimates are optimal. Finally a discussion on the error behaviour in negative norms shows that there is generally no improvement in the order by going to weaker norms. Received July 5, 1993     

A mixed formulation for 3D magnetostatic problems: theoretical analysis and face-edge finite element approximation

Summary. A mixed field-based variational formulation for the solution of threedimensional magnetostatic problems is presented and analyzed. This method is based upon the minimization of a functional related to the error in the constitutive magnetic relationship, while constraints represented by Maxwell's equations are imposed by means of Lagrange multipliers. In this way, both the magnetic field and the magnetic induction field can be approximated by using the most appropriate family of vector finite elements, and boundary conditions can be imposed in a natural way. Moreover, this method is more suitable than classical approaches for the approximation of problems featuring strong discontinuities of the magnetic permeability, as is usually the case. A finite element discretization involving face and edge elements is also proposed, performing stability analysis and giving error estimates. Received January 23, 1998 / Revised version received July 23, 1998 / Published online September 24, 1999     

Mixed finite elements for elasticity

Summary. There have been many efforts, dating back four decades, to develop stable mixed finite elements for the stress-displacement formulation of the plane elasticity system. This requires the development of a compatible pair of finite element spaces, one to discretize the space of symmetric tensors in which the stress field is sought, and one to discretize the space of vector fields in which the displacement is sought. Although there are number of well-known mixed finite element pairs known for the analogous problem involving vector fields and scalar fields, the symmetry of the stress field is a substantial additional difficulty, and the elements presented here are the first ones using polynomial shape functions which are known to be stable. We present a family of such pairs of finite element spaces, one for each polynomial degree, beginning with degree two for the stress and degree one for the displacement, and show stability and optimal order approximation. We also analyze some obstructions to the construction of such finite element spaces, which account for the paucity of elements available. Received January 10, 2001 / Published online November 15, 2001     

A posteriori error estimation with the finite element method of lines for a nonlinear parabolic equation in one space dimension

Summary. Convergence of a posteriori error estimates to the true error for the semidiscrete finite element method of lines is shown for a nonlinear parabolic initial-boundary value problem. Received June 15, 1997 / Revised version received May 15, 1998 / Published online: June 29, 1999     

Least-squares mixed finite element methods for non-selfadjoint elliptic problems: I. Error estimates

Summary. A least-squares mixed finite element method for general second-order non-selfadjoint elliptic problems in two- and three-dimensional domains is formulated and analyzed. The finite element spaces for the primary solution approximation and the flux approximation consist of piecewise polynomials of degree and respectively. The method is mildly nonconforming on the boundary. The cases and are studied. It is proved that the method is not subject to the LBB-condition. Optimal - and -error estimates are derived for regular finite element partitions. Numerical experiments, confirming the theoretical rates of convergence, are presented. Received October 15, 1993 / Revised version received August 2, 1994     

Edge residuals dominate a posteriori error estimates for linear finite element methods on anisotropic triangular and tetrahedral meshes

Summary. Both for the - and -norms, we prove that, up to higher order perturbation terms, edge residuals yield global upper and local lower bounds on the error of linear finite element methods on anisotropic triangular or tetrahedral meshes. We also show that, with a correct scaling, edge residuals yield a robust error estimator for a singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion equation. Received April 19, 1999 / Published online April 20, 2000     

Analysis of new augmented Lagrangian formulations for mixed finite element schemes

Summary. Two new augmented Lagrangian formulations for mixed finite element schemes are presented. The methods lead, in some cases, to an improvement in the order of the approximation. An error analysis is provided, together with some interesting examples of applications. Received July 27, 1994 / Revised version received November 17, 1995     

Quasi-norm error bounds for the finite element approximation of a non-Newtonian flow

Summary. We consider the finite element approximation of a non-Newtonian flow, where the viscosity obeys a general law including the Carreau or power law. For sufficiently regular solutions we prove energy type error bounds for the velocity and pressure. These bounds improve on existing results in the literature. A key step in the analysis is to prove abstract error bounds initially in a quasi-norm, which naturally arises in degenerate problems of this type. Received May 25, 1993 / Revised version received January 11, 1994     

A saddle point variational formulation for projection–regularized parameter identification

Summary. This paper is concerned with the ill-posed problem of identifying a parameter in an elliptic equation and its solution applying regularization by projection. As the theory has shown, the ansatz functions for the parameter have to be sufficiently smooth. In this paper we show that these – for a practical implementation unrealistic – smoothness assumptions can be circumvented by reformulating the problem under consideration as a mixed variational equation. We prove convergence as the discretization gets finer in the noise free case and convergence as the data noise level goes to zero in the case of noisy data, as well as convergence rates under additional smoothness conditions. Received August 4, 2000 / Revised version received March 21, 2001 / Published online October 17, 2001     

The approximation theory for the p-version finite element method and application to non-linear elliptic PDEs

Approximation theoretic results are obtained for approximation using continuous piecewise polynomials of degree p on meshes of triangular and quadrilateral elements. Estimates for the rate of convergence in Sobolev spaces , are given. The results are applied to estimate the rate of convergence when the p-version finite element method is used to approximate the -Laplacian. It is shown that the rate of convergence of the p-version is always at least that of the h-version (measured in terms of number of degrees of freedom used). If the solution is very smooth then the p-version attains an exponential rate of convergence. If the solution has certain types of singularity, the rate of convergence of the p-version is twice that of the h-version. The analysis generalises the work of Babuska and others to the case . In addition, the approximation theoretic results find immediate application for some types of spectral and spectral element methods. Received August 2, 1995 / Revised version received January 26, 1998     

A posteriori error estimates for nonconforming finite element methods

Summary. Computable a posteriori error bounds for a large class of nonconforming finite element methods are provided for a model Poisson-problem in two and three space dimensions. Besides a refined residual-based a posteriori error estimate, an averaging estimator is established and an -estimate is included. The a posteriori error estimates are reliable and efficient; the proof of reliability relies on a Helmholtz decomposition. Received March 4, 1997 / Revised version received September 4, 2001 / Published online December 18, 2001     

A residual based error estimator for mortar finite element discretizations

Summary. A residual based error estimator for the approximation of linear elliptic boundary value problems by nonconforming finite element methods is introduced and analyzed. In particular, we consider mortar finite element techniques restricting ourselves to geometrically conforming domain decomposition methods using P1 approximations in each subdomain. Additionally, a residual based error estimator for Crouzeix-Raviart elements of lowest order is presented and compared with the error estimator obtained in the more general mortar situation. It is shown that the computational effort of the error estimator can be considerably reduced if the special structure of the Lagrange multiplier is taken into account. Received July 18, 1997 / Revised version received July 27, 1998 / Published online September 7, 1999     

A finite element method and variable transformations for a forward-backward heat equation

The Galerkin finite element method for the forward-backward heat equation is generalized to a wider class of equations with the use of a result on the existence and uniqueness of a weak solution to the problems. First, the theory for the Galerkin method is extended to forward-backward heat equations which contain additional convection and mass terms on an irregular domain. Second, variable transformations are constructed and applied to solve a wide class of forward-backward heat equations that leads to a substantial improvement. Third, Error estimates are presented. Finally, conducted numerical tests corroborate the obtained results. Received February 4, 1997 / Revised version received December 8, 1997     

A sparse finite element method with high accuracy Part I

Summary. In this paper, we develop and analyze a new finite element method called the sparse finite element method for second order elliptic problems. This method involves much fewer degrees of freedom than the standard finite element method. We show nevertheless that such a sparse finite element method still possesses the superconvergence and other high accuracy properties same as those of the standard finite element method. The main technique in our analysis is the use of some integral identities. Received October 1, 1995 / Revised version received August 23, 1999 / Published online February 5, 2001     

Convergence of a finite element method for non-parametric mean curvature flow

Summary. Convergence for the spatial discretization by linear finite elements of the non-parametric mean curvature flow is proved under natural regularity assumptions on the continuous solution. Asymptotic convergence is also obtained for the time derivative which is proportional to mean curvature. An existence result for the continuous problem in adequate spaces is included. Received September 30, 1993