Stable finite element pair for Stokes problem and discrete Stokes complex on quadrilateral grids

In this paper, we first construct a nonconforming finite element pair for the incompressible Stokes problem on quadrilateral grids, and then construct a discrete Stokes complex associated with that finite element pair. The finite element spaces involved consist of piecewise polynomials only, and the divergence-free condition is imposed in a primal formulation. Combined with some existing results, these constructions can be generated onto grids that consist of both triangular and quadrilateral cells

Convergence and Optimality of Adaptive Mixed Finite Element Methods

The convergence and optimality of adaptive mixed finite element methods for the Poisson equation are established in this paper. The main difficulty for mixed finite element methods is the lack of minimization principle and thus the failure of orthogonality. A quasi-orthogonality property is proved using the fact that the error is orthogonal to the divergence free subspace, while the part of the error that is not divergence free can be bounded by the data oscillation using a discrete stability result. This discrete stability result is also used to get a localized discrete upper bound which is crucial for the proof of the optimality of the adaptive approximation

Generalized Finite Element Systems for smooth differential forms and Stokes problem

We provide both a general framework for discretizing de Rham sequences of differential forms of high regularity, and some examples of finite element spaces that fit in the framework. The general framework is an extension of the previously introduced notion of Finite Element Systems, and the examples include conforming mixed finite elements for Stokes' equation. In dimension 2 we detail four low order finite element complexes and one infinite family of highorder finite element complexes. In dimension 3 we define one low order complex, which may be branched into Whitney forms at a chosen index. Stokes pairs with continuous or discontinuous pressure are provided in arbitrary dimension. The finite element spaces all consist of composite polynomials. The framework guarantees some nice properties of the spaces, in particular the existence of commuting interpolators. It also shows that some of the examples are minimal spaces.Comment: v1: 27 pages. v2: 34 pages. Numerous details added. v3: 44 pages. 8 figures and several comments adde

Conforming and nonconforming virtual element methods for elliptic problems

We present in a unified framework new conforming and nonconforming Virtual Element Methods (VEM) for general second order elliptic problems in two and three dimensions. The differential operator is split into its symmetric and non-symmetric parts and conditions for stability and accuracy on their discrete counterparts are established. These conditions are shown to lead to optimal $H^1$- and $L^2$-error estimates, confirmed by numerical experiments on a set of polygonal meshes. The accuracy of the numerical approximation provided by the two methods is shown to be comparable

Comparison results for the Stokes equations

This paper enfolds a medius analysis for the Stokes equations and compares different finite element methods (FEMs). A first result is a best approximation result for a P1 non-conforming FEM. The main comparison result is that the error of the P2-P0-FEM is a lower bound to the error of the Bernardi-Raugel (or reduced P2-P0) FEM, which is a lower bound to the error of the P1 non-conforming FEM, and this is a lower bound to the error of the MINI-FEM. The paper discusses the converse direction, as well as other methods such as the discontinuous Galerkin and pseudostress FEMs. Furthermore this paper provides counterexamples for equivalent convergence when different pressure approximations are considered. The mathematical arguments are various conforming companions as well as the discrete inf-sup condition