General approach for a posteriori error estimates for finite element solutions of variational inequalities (Q5946987)

Procedures to derive weighted a posteriori error estimates for finite element (FE) discretizations of variational equations by employing an auxiliary dual problem are known. This framework can be applied to variational inequalities. In the present paper it is shown how the techniques to derive residual based error estimators can be extended directly to the original variational inequalities. The ideas are based on the experiences of H. Blum and the author. By means of the duality techniques (Nitsche trick) a priori error estimates in the \(L^2\)-norm are given. The possibility of the construction of a framework for deriving a posteriori error bounds for FE-approximation of a class of variational inequalities is shown. This method is illustrated at a plasticity, the obstacle and Signorini's problem. Some figures demonstrate the structure of grids and the relative errors in these examples.