On the error bounds of nonconforming finite elements (Q625903)

The authors consider a first kind selfadjoint elliptic boundary value problem in 2 or 3 dimensions and a large class of triangular or rectangular nonconforming elements (those which satisfy the patch conditions) for its solution. Assuming that the matrix of the elliptic problem is constant on the elements, they are able to construct a discrete space orthogonal to the nonconforming one using an interpolational operator referring to works of \textit{F. Schieweck} [M2AN, Math. Model. Numer. Anal. 36, No.~3, 489--503 (2002; Zbl 1041.65083)] and \textit{L. R. Scott} and \textit{S. Zhang} [Math. Comput. 54, No.~190, 483--493 (1990; Zbl 0696.65007)]. This helps to establish an analogon of Cea's lemma in which the approximation error dominates a second error connected to the sufficiently smooth right-hand side and to obtain error estimates in the energy and \(L_2\) norms under minimal regularity assumptions.