Error estimates for finite-element solutions of elliptic boundary value problems in non-smooth domains (Q920605)

The paper deals with linear elliptic boundary value problems of order 2m in domains with conical points or non-intersecting edges in \({\mathfrak R}^ n\). It is shown how the singularities of the solutions reduce the order of convergence of standard finite element methods. At first the regularity of the solution in the neighbourhood of conical points or edges is estimated in the framework of weighted Sobolev spaces using results of Kondratiev. Then conditions are formulated under which these regularity results are valid for weak solutions of the problem, too. Based on these results error estimates for standard finite element methods are obtained in the norms of \(W^{m,2}\) and \(L^ p\) (2\(\leq p\leq \infty\); Aubin-Nitsche trick). The investigation of non-symmetric bilinear forms is included.