Crouzeix-Raviart type finite elements on anisotropic meshes (Q5946646)

The authors consider boundary value problems with solutions having an anisotropic behaviour in parts of the domain considered. These problems are discretized by non-conforming finite elements on anisotropically graded finite element meshes. The Crouzeix-Raviart element is used on triangular and tetrahedral meshes. For rectangular and prismatic elements a novel set of trial functions is proposed. The finite element error of the non-conforming method is estimated via the second Strang lemma by the sum of an interpolation error and a consistency error. At first, the authors describe the construction of a family of anisotropically graded meshes which are well-suited for the treatment of edge singularities. Then, anisotropic local interpolation error estimates are derived for all considered types of elements. Estimates of the consistency error for the equation \(- \nabla \eta = f\) are presented. The local interpolation error estimates and the estimates of the consistency error are applied in order to prove the finite element error estimate for the Laplace equation in the presence of edge singularities. The theoretical results are confirmed by a numerical example.