Accuracy of least-squares methods for the Navier--Stokes equations (Q1308927)

We study the accuracy of least-squares finite element methods for velocity-vorticity-pressure formulations of the incompressible Navier- Stokes equations through a series of computational experiments, and also comment on theoretical error estimates. It is found, despite the failure of standard methods for deriving error estimates, that computational evidence suggests that these methods are, at the least, nearly optimally accurate. Thus, in addition to the desirable matrix properties yielded by least-squares methods, one also obtains accurate approximations.