Interior maximum norm estimates for finite element discretizations of the Stokes equations

Interior estimates are proved in the L ^∞ norm for stable finite element discretizations of the Stokes equations on translation invariant meshes. These estimates yield information about the quality of the finite element solution in subdomains a positive distance from the boundary. While they have been established for second-order elliptic problems, these interior, or local, maximum norm estimates for the Stokes equations are new. By applying finite differenciation methods on a translation invariant mesh, we obtain optimal convergence rates in the mesh size h in the maximum norm. These results can be used for analyzing superconvergence in finite element methods for the Stokes equations.     

Numerical study of natural superconvergence in least-squares finite element methods for elliptic problems

Natural superconvergence of the least-squares finite element method is surveyed for the one-and two-dimensional Poisson equation. For two-dimensional problems, both the families of Lagrange elements and Raviart-Thomas elements have been considered on uniform triangular and rectangular meshes. Numerical experiments reveal that many superconvergence properties of the standard Galerkin method are preserved by the least-squares finite element method. The second author was supported in part by the US National Science Foundation under Grant DMS-0612908.     

Lagrange interpolation and finite element superconvergence

We consider the finite element approximation of the Laplacian operator with the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition, and study the corresponding Lagrange interpolation in the context of finite element superconvergence. For d‐dimensional Q_k‐type elements with d ≥ 1 and k ≥ 1, we prove that the interpolation points must be the Lobatto points if the Lagrange interpolation and the finite element solution are superclose in H¹ norm. For d‐dimensional P_k‐type elements, we consider the standard Lagrange interpolation—the Lagrange interpolation with interpolation points being the principle lattice points of simplicial elements. We prove for d ≥ 2 and k ≥ d + 1 that such interpolation and the finite element solution are not superclose in both H¹ and L² norms and that not all such interpolation points are superconvergence points for the finite element approximation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 20: 33–59, 2004.     

有限元网格的超收敛测度及其应用

给出线性有限元求解二阶椭圆问题的有限元网格超收敛测度及其应用.有限元超收敛经常是在具有一定结构的特殊网格条件下讨论的,而本文从一般网格出发,导出一种网格的范数用来描述超收敛所需要的网格条件以及超收敛的程度.并且通过对这种网格范数性质的考察,可以证明对于通常考虑的一些特殊网格的超收敛的存在性.更进一步,我们可以通过正则细分的方式在一般区域上也可以自动获得超收敛网格.最后给出相关的数值结果来验证本文的理论分析.     

Superconvergence of immersed finite element methods for interface problems

In this article, we study superconvergence properties of immersed finite element methods for the one dimensional elliptic interface problem. Due to low global regularity of the solution, classical superconvergence phenomenon for finite element methods disappears unless the discontinuity of the coefficient is resolved by partition. We show that immersed finite element solutions inherit all desired superconvergence properties from standard finite element methods without requiring the mesh to be aligned with the interface. In particular, on interface elements, superconvergence occurs at roots of generalized orthogonal polynomials that satisfy both orthogonality and interface jump conditions.     

Convergence and superconvergence analysis of a new quadratic Hermite-type triangular element on anisotropic meshes

A new quadratic Hermite-type triangular finite element is conceived to solve a class of two-dimensional second-order elliptic boundary value problems. Its error estimates on anisotropic meshes are developed. Furthermore, we verify that some conditions set to the meshes contribute to the proof of its superconvergence properties, which can improve the approximation results. Numerical examples are given to confirm our theoretical analysis.     

Finite element derivative interpolation recovery technique and superconvergence

A new finite element derivative recovery technique is proposed by using the polynomial interpolation method. We show that the recovered derivatives possess superconvergence on the recovery domain and ultraconvergence at the interior mesh points for finite element approximations to elliptic boundary problems. Compared with the well-known Z-Z patch recovery technique, the advantage of our method is that it gives an explicit recovery formula and possesses the ultraconvergence for the odd-order finite elements. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical analysis.     

Some superconvergence results of high-degree finite element method for a second order elliptic equation with variable coefficients

In this paper, some superconvergence results of high-degree finite element method are obtained for solving a second order elliptic equation with variable coefficients on the inner locally symmetric mesh with respect to a point x ₀ for triangular meshes. By using of the weak estimates and local symmetric technique, we obtain improved discretization errors of O(h ^p+1 |ln h|²) and O(h ^p+2 |ln h|²) when p (≥ 3) is odd and p (≥ 4) is even, respectively. Meanwhile, the results show that the combination of the weak estimates and local symmetric technique is also effective for superconvergence analysis of the second order elliptic equation with variable coefficients.     

A new superconvergence property of Wilson nonconforming finite element

Summary. In this paper the Wilson nonconforming finite element method is considered to solve a class of two-dimensional second-order elliptic boundary value problems. A new superconvergence property at the vertices and the midpoints of four edges of rectangular meshes is obtained. Received May 5, 1995 / Revised version received November 11, 1996     

Superconvergence of finite volume element method for elliptic problems

We study the superconvergence of finite volume element (FVE) method for elliptic problems by using linear trial functions. Under the condition of C-uniform meshes, we first establish a superclose weak estimate for the bilinear form of FVE method. Then, we prove that all interior mesh points are the optimal stress points of interpolation function and further we give the superconvergence result of gradient approximation: $\displaystyle {\max _{P\in S}}\left |\left (\nabla u-\overline {\nabla }u_{h}\right )(P)\right |=O\left (h^{2}\right )\left |\ln h\right |$ , where S is the set of mesh points and $\overline {\nabla }$ denotes the average gradient on elements containing vertex P.     

Recovery type a posteriori estimates and superconvergence for nonconforming FEM of eigenvalue problems

The main goal of this paper is to present recovery type a posteriori error estimators and superconvergence for the nonconforming finite element eigenvalue approximation of self-adjoint elliptic equations by projection methods. Based on the superconvergence results of nonconforming finite element for the eigenfunction we derive superconvergence and recovery type a posteriori error estimates of the eigenvalue. The results are based on some regularity assumption for the elliptic problem and are applicable to the lowest order nonconforming finite element approximations of self-adjoint elliptic eigenvalue problems with quasi-regular partitions. Therefore, the results of this paper can be employed to provide useful a posteriori error estimators in practical computing under unstructured meshes.     

A remark on the optimality of adaptive finite element methods

We show that the standard assumption on the smallness of the marking parameter θ in adaptive finite element methods can be avoided for the proof of the optimality of the algorithm. To this end we propose a new technique based on comparison of the solutions of different finite element spaces obtained by different refinements of a given mesh. We consider conforming and nonconforming low-order finite elements on triangular and tetrahedral meshes.     

On using meshes of mixed element types in adaptive finite element analysis

Four different automatic mesh generators capable of generating either triangular meshes or hybrid meshes of mixed element types have been used in the mesh generation process. The performance of these mesh generators were tested by applying them to the adaptive finite element refinement procedure. It is found that by carefully controlling the quality and grading of the quadrilateral elements, an increase in efficiency over pure triangular meshes can be achieved. Furthermore, if linear elements are employed, an optimal hybrid mesh can be obtained most economically by a combined use of the mesh coring technique suggested by Lo and Lau and a selective removal of diagonals from the triangular element mesh. On the other hand, if quadratic elements are used, it is preferable to generate a pure triangular mesh first, and then obtain a hybrid mesh by merging of triangles.     

有限元超收敛新论

本文从三个方面讨论二阶椭圆问题有限元超收敛．1．一致网格上的新超收敛结果．利用新的“投影型插值”,我们解决了高次三角形元的超收敛问题．2．一般网格的超收敛性．利用局部插值处理和局部磨光处理我们获得了整体超收敛性结果．3．关于当前的两种超收敛技巧．Cornell学派利用一个精致的内估计和网格的点对称性,获得了一个“普遍”的结果,中国学派利用两个基本估计和离散Green函数理论获得了令人满意的结果,两者均很复杂．本文综合了两个学派的方法,简洁地证得上述普遍结果．     

Lp error estimates and superconvergence for covolume or finite volume element methods

We consider convergence of the covolume or finite volume element solution to linear elliptic and parabolic problems. Error estimates and superconvergence results in the L^p norm, 2 ≤ p ≤ ∞, are derived. We also show second‐order convergence in the L^p norm between the covolume and the corresponding finite element solutions and between their gradients. The main tools used in this article are an extension of the “supercloseness” results in Chou and Li [Math Comp 69(229) (2000), 103–120] to the L^p based spaces, duality arguments, and the discrete Green's function method. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 19: 463–486, 2003     

Some remarks on the constant in the strengthened CBS inequality: Estimate for hierarchical finite element discretizations of elasticity problems

For a class of two‐dimensional boundary value problems including diffusion and elasticity problems, it is proved that the constants in the corresponding strengthened Cauchy‐Buniakowski‐Schwarz (CBS) inequality in the cases of two‐level hierarchical piecewise‐linear/piecewise‐linear and piecewise‐linear/piecewise‐quadratic finite element discretizations with triangular meshes differ by the factor 0.75. For plane linear elasticity problems and triangulations with right isosceles triangles, formulas are presented that show the dependence of the constant in the CBS inequality on the Poisson's ratio. Furthermore, numerically determined bounds of the constant in the CBS inequality are given for plane linear elasticity problems discretized by means of arbitrary triangles and for three‐dimensional elasticity problems discretized by means of tetrahedral elements. Finally, the robustness of iterative solvers for elasticity problems is discussed briefly. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 15: 469–487, 1999     

Superconvergence in the generalized finite element method

In this paper, we address the problem of the existence of superconvergence points of approximate solutions, obtained from the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM), of a Neumann elliptic boundary value problem. GFEM is a Galerkin method that uses non-polynomial shape functions, and was developed in (Babuška et al. in SIAM J Numer Anal 31, 945–981, 1994; Babuška et al. in Int J Numer Meth Eng 40, 727–758, 1997; Melenk and Babuška in Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 139, 289–314, 1996). In particular, we show that the superconvergence points for the gradient of the approximate solution are the zeros of a system of non-linear equations; this system does not depend on the solution of the boundary value problem. For approximate solutions with second derivatives, we have also characterized the superconvergence points of the second derivatives of the approximate solution as the roots of a system of non-linear equations. We note that smooth generalized finite element approximation is easy to construct. I. Babuška’s research was partially supported by NSF Grant # DMS-0341982 and ONR Grant # N00014-99-1-0724. U. Banerjee’s research was partially supported by NSF Grant # DMS-0341899. J. E. Osborn’s research was supported by NSF Grant # DMS-0341982.     

A local superconvergence analysis of the finite element method for the Stokes equations by local projections

In this paper, we focus on a local superconvergence analysis of the finite element method for the Stokes equations by local projections. The local and global superconvergence results of finite element solutions are provided for the Stokes problem under some corresponding regularity assumptions. Conclusion can be drawn that the local superconvergence has advantages over the global superconvergence in two important aspects. On the one hand, it offsets theoretical limitation in practical applications. On the other hand, interior estimates are derived on the base of local properties of the domain without global smoothness for the exact solution and prior regularity of the problem globally over the whole domain.     

Superconvergence for triangular finite elements

Based on two classes of the orthogonal expansions in a triangle, superconvergence of m-degree triangular finite element solution (for evenm) and its average gradient (for oddm) at symmetric points for a second order elliptic problem are studied. There are no other superconvergence points independent of the coefficients of elliptic equation. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19331021).     

高次Galerkin有限元法的超收敛性

通过局部误差估计,对具有光滑边界的二阶常系数椭圆型方程,给出了高次Ｇａｌｅｒｋｉｎ 有限元法的超收敛性． 运用对称技巧和积分恒等式技巧,在局部对称矩形网格或三角形网格上,我们得到了改进的超收敛性（提高１－ ３ 阶）．