Numerical approximation of convection-diffusion equations in a channel using boundary layer elements (Q2495431)

The author proposes a finite element method for the singularly-perturbed equation \( -\varepsilon \Delta u + b_1 u_x - b_2 u_y = f \) on a rectangle. The solution is required to be periodic in \(x\) and to vanish on the top and bottom of the rectangle. The (constant) coefficient \(b_2\) is positive, giving rise to a boundary layer at the bottom of the rectangle. The author introduces a finite element method based on bilinear elements on a regular grid. The boundary layer is captured by the inclusion of an appropriate exponential function in the finite element space. The paper proves an \(H^1\) error estimate of order \(h^2/\varepsilon\).