A new error indicator based on stresses for adaptive meshing with Hermite boundary elements (Q1566458)

The authors present a new error indicator for adaptive meshing with Hermite boundary elements. The error indicator measures, in an approximate fashion, the error in the numerical solution for stresses. The basic idea is to compare, on an element-by-element basis, a solution for stresses obtained with Hermite elements with another reduced solution. This reduced solution is obtained by approximating the field variables inside each element by Lagrangian shape functions together with the nodal values for displacements and tractions that can be obtained from the analysis with Hermite elements. Due to its simplicity and reliability, this new error indicator can be very convenient to treat adaptive processes.