Superconvergence of a finite element method for the multi-term time-fractional diffusion problem (Q2291930)

The authors consider the finite element approximation of a multi-term time-fractional diffusion problem in which the spatial domain lies in \({\mathbb{R}}^d\) with \(d\in \{1,2,3\} \). A priori bounds for the solution and its derivatives are stated; these show that typical solutions have a weak singularity at the initial time \(t=0\). A piecewise bilinear finite element method is used as discretization in space and an \(L1\) scheme on a temporal graded mesh is performed as discretization in time. A new discrete fractional Gronwall inequality is proved. Such an inequality allows to derive and prove an optimal error estimate in \(L^\infty (H^1)\). In the case of rectangular or cubical elements in which the sides of the elements are parallel to the coordinate axes, it is proved that the approximate solution has a higher convergence order in space. Some numerical tests are presented to support the theoretical results.