The effect of numerical integration on the finite element approximation of linear functionals (Q621309)

The effect of numerical integration on the finite element method based on piecewise polynomials of degree \(k\) is studied. The main attention is paid to the approximation of linear functionals, which are also known as ``quantities of interest''. The optimal order of convergence, \({\mathcal{O}(h^{2k})}\) is obtained for the error in the computed functional, when the integrals in the stiffness matrix and the load vector are computed with a quadrature rule of algebraic precision \(2k - 1\). For this result an increased regularity of the data is assumed. For a particular problem a lower bound of the error in the computed functional is obtained, which indicates the necessity of the increased regularity requirement of the data. Numerical experiments are presented indicating that over-integration may be necessary to accurately approximate the functional, when the data lack the increased regularity.