On the \(L_ 2\) error for the \(p\)-version of the finite element method over polygonal domains (Q1205644)

The model problem of the Poisson equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions in a bounded, polygonal and nonconvex domain with re-entrant corners is considered. If \(w_ i\) with \(0<w_ i<2\pi\) denotes the interior angle of the re-entrant corner \(A_ i\) of the domain with \(w:=\max_ i\{w_ i\}\) and \(\alpha:=\alpha/w\), then it is known that the \(h\)-version of the finite element method produces an approximate solution \(u_ h\) whose error \(e_ h=u-u_ h\) satisfies in the norm \(\| e_ h\|_{-s}\leq Ch^ \alpha\| e_ h\|_ 1\). In contrast to this sharp convergence rate the main result of the paper is shown, that the error \(e_ p\) in the \(L_ 2\)-norm of the \(p\)-version of the finite element approximation (i.e. fixed mesh and increasing degree of the basis functions) satisfies the full order of convergence even for nonconvex domains, namely \(\| e_ p\|\leq Cp^{-1}\| e_ p\|_ 1\). The argumentation and the result can be extended to more general elliptic problems, and numerical experiments for an \(L\)-shaped membrane reflect the theoretical results perfectly.