A posteriori error estimators for second order elliptic systems. II: An optimal order process for calculating self-equilibrating fluxes (Q1311985)

[For part I see ibid. 25, No. 2, 101-113 (1993; Zbl 0764.65060)]. The authors present full details of an algorithm which can be used to obtain self-equilibrating fluxes for arbitrary \(h\)-\(p\)-finite element approximations. All of the calculations are performed on a local scale, with an optimal order process with \(O(n)\) convergence, where \(n\) is the number of elements in the mesh. Because of the local nature of the process, the algorithm is perfectly suited to parallel implementation. It can be applied in two and in three dimensions for unstructured, \(k\)- irregular meshes and elements of non-uniform degree. Finally, it is shown that the implementation of the flux equilibration algorithm can take advantage of calculations already performed in obtaining the finite element approximation itself.