Higher order finite element approximation of a quasilinear elliptic boundary value problem of a non-monotone type (Q1363459)

The problem \(-\operatorname {div}(A(x,u) \operatorname {grad}u)=f\) in \(\Omega \), \(u=0\) on \(\partial \Omega \), in the weak formulation is examined in a polyhedral domain \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^d\), \(d\in \{1,2,3\}\). Among others, the problem describes a stationary heat conduction in nonlinear inhomogeneous and anisotropic media. The equation is approximated via the finite elements of degree \(k\geq 1\). Both the original and approximated problem have a solution, the reader is referred to the paper by \textit{I. Hlaváček, M. Křížek} and \textit{J. Malý} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 184, No. 1, 168-189 (1994; Zbl 0802.65113)] for proofs. Employing the Aubin-Nitsche trick and assuming some regularity of the solution of an auxiliary adjoint problem, the authors prove the optimal rate of convergence \(\mathcal O(h^k)\) in the \(H^1\)-norm and \(\mathcal O(h^{k+1})\) in the \(L^2\)-norm. Numerical integration is not taken into account.