A finite element method for a singularly perturbed boundary value problem

Summary We examine the problem:u+a(x)u–b(x)u=f(x) for 0<x<1,a(x)>0,b(x)>,² = 4>0,a, b andf inC² [0, 1], in (0, 1],u(0) andu(1) given. Using finite elements and a discretized Green's function, we show that the El-Mistikawy and Werle difference scheme on an equidistant mesh of widthh is uniformly second order accurate for this problem (i.e., the nodal errors are bounded byCh², whereC is independent ofh and ). With a natural choice of trial functions, uniform first order accuracy is obtained in theL (0, 1) norm. On choosing piecewise linear trial functions (hat functions), uniform first order accuracy is obtained in theL¹ (0, 1) norm.