Least-squares methods for Stokes equations based on a discrete minus one inner product (Q2564254)

The purpose of this paper is to develop and analyze least-squares approximations for Stokes and elasticity problems. The major advantage of the least-squares formulation is that it does not require that the classical Ladyzhenskaya-Babuska-Brezzi (LBB) condition be satisfied. Two methods are provided. The first is posed in terms of the velocity-pressure pair without the introduction of additional variables. The second adds a vorticity variable. In both cases, least-squares functionals are provided which involve a discrete inner product which is related to the inner product in \(H^1(\Omega)\) (the Sobolev space of order minus one in \(\Omega)\). The use of such inner products (applied to second problems) was proposed in an earlier paper by \textit{J. H. Bramble}, \textit{R. D. Lazarov} and \textit{J. E. Pasciak} [A least-squares approach based on a direct minus one inner product for first order systems, Brookhaven Nat. Laboratory Rep. BNL-60624 (1994)].