The effect of quadrature rules on finite element solutions of Maxwell variational problems. Consistency estimates on meshes with straight and curved elements (Q2022342)

The effects of numerical integration are studied when approximating Maxwell-type variational problems via finite elements (FE) in bounded domains with perfectly conducting boundary conditions. Through the error analysis, conditions are derived for quadrature rules to guarantee orders of convergence, with respect to the mesh size, of the error associated with numerical approximation of exact integration. Convergence rate estimates are presented between fully discrete and continuous solutions on polygonal domains, specifying sufficient conditions on the quadrature rules to ensure the same convergence rate one would obtain with exact integration. The authors show that the conditions on the quadrature rules will depend on the polynomial degree of FE approximation spaces and the degree of precision used to mesh the domain when not polygonal. The maximum possible convergence rate is limited by the smoothness of parameters and of the continuous solution. The convergence results are tested on a polygonal domain, namely the cube by isolating the effects of quadrature rules on the observed rates of convergence. Convergence estimate for first- and second-order curl-conforming finite elements are validated on numerical examples. Furthermore, the effect of quadrature precision on preasymptotic convergence is investigated.