A C r Trivariate Macro-Element Based on the Alfeld Split of Tetrahedra

Abstract We construct trivariate macro-elements of class C r for any r ≥ 1 over the Alfeld refinement of any tetrahedral partition in R 3 . In our construction, the degree of polynomials used for these macro-elements is the lowest possible. We also give the dimension formula for the subspace of consisting of these macro-elements