Some a priori error estimates with respect to \(H^{\theta}\) norms, \(0 <\theta < 1\), for the \(h\)-extension of the finite element method in two dimensions (Q1763632)

Some a priori error estimates with respect to lower-order (fractional) norms, for quasi-uniform \(h\)-extension of the 2D Galerkin finite element method are derived. The model problem adopted is a general second-order elliptic equation. The solution space of the standard weak formulation is a subspace of \(H^1(\Omega)\). In particular, it is shown that in polygonal domains, where the singularities dominate the regularity of the exact solution (that is if \(u\in H^{1+\delta-\varepsilon}(\Omega)\) for each \(\varepsilon> 0\) and \(0<\delta< 1\)), the optimal rate of convergence is recovered for \(\theta> 1 -\delta\). For \(\theta\leq 1-\delta\) the deduced upper bound of the error has the same order as the classical error estimate with respect to the \(L^2\) norm. Lower bound estimates of the form \(\| e^h\|_\theta\geq C\| e^h\|^2_1\) are deduced for some values of banded positive definite unsymmetric bilinear functionals.