On fully implicit space-time discretization for motions of incompressible fluids with shear-dependent viscosities: The case \(p \leq 2 \) (Q2706410)

The paper deals with a rigorous error analysis for a fully implicit space-time discretization of an unsteady non-Newtonian fluid flow model, where the nonlinear operator related to the stress tensor exhibits \(p\)-structure. At the first step, a semi-discretization in time using the implicit Euler method is discussed. Due to limitation of regularity of the solution in the case \(p\not=2\), a decrease with respect to convergence rates of the method is attained, in general, by retaining smoothly first order in appropriate norms for Stokes law. The analysis is then extended to a full discretization using stable pairings of finite element spaces at the second step.