On the compactness of quasi-conforming element spaces and the convergence of quasi-conforming element method (Q1086997)

For the two-dimensional plate bending problem the author defines and investigates quasiconform element spaces on triangular and parallelogram partitionings of a bounded polygonal domain. The main result gives sufficient conditions for \(L_ 2\) convergence, using concepts like properly affine family of elements, conditions on the magnitude of jumps (O(h)-like) admitted at element boundaries, a generalized patch test - modified here to be easier checked - and further conditions. The proofs rest on own earlier work as well as on results of Ciarlet and Stummel. Moreover, it is announced that quasi-conform elements with 3n degrees of freedom \((n=2,...,7)\) introduced earlier by the authors satisfy all conditions and hence converge with first to fourth order.