L 2 estimates for the finite element method for the Dirichlet problem with singular data

Summary In this paper we consider the approximation by the finite element method of second order elliptic problems on convex domains and homogeneous Dirichlet condition on the boundary. In these problems the data are Borel measures. Using a quasiuniform mesh of finite elements and polynomials of degree 1, we prove that in two dimensions the convergence is of orderh inL ² and in three dimensions of orderh ^1/2.