A new a priori error estimate of nonconforming finite element methods (Q476923)

The authors consider second- and fourth-order elliptic equations along with Dirichlet boundary conditions in \(n=2\) and \(n=3\) dimensions. Assuming \(H^m\) regularity of the exact solutions and shape regular partitions into simplices or \(n\)-paralellotopes, they investigate the accuracy of nonconforming finite element methods, continuing work of, between others, \textit{T. Gudi} [Math. Comput. 79, No. 272, 2169--2189 (2010; Zbl 1201.65198)] and \textit{S. Mao} and \textit{Z. Shi} [Sci. China, Math. 53, No. 11, 2917--2926 (2010; Zbl 1211.65148)]. Their basic assumptions on the nonconformity, weak continuity and the F-E-M-Test of \textit{Z.-c. Shi} [Math. Comput. 49, 391--405 (1987; Zbl 0648.65075)], are met by practically all known nonconforming elements. In deriving the error bounds, they propose a new decomposition of the consistency error using projection average interpolation, and piecewise constant projections on \((n-1)\)-dimensional faces. They illustrate the fulfilment of their basic conditions for a series of nonconforming elements both for \(m=1\) and \(m=2\), and exhibit a numerical example for the Laplace equation in a two-dimensional, non-convex domain showing optimal accuracy in \(H^1\).