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A‐posteriori error estimates for the finite element method
Author(s) -
Babuška I.,
Rheinboldt W. C.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.1620121010
Subject(s) - finite element method , a priori and a posteriori , mathematics , bilinear form , sobolev space , bilinear interpolation , mixed finite element method , eigenvalues and eigenvectors , mathematical optimization , calculus (dental) , mathematical analysis , medicine , philosophy , statistics , physics , dentistry , epistemology , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
Computable a‐posteriori error estimates for finite element solutions are derived in an asymptotic form for h → 0 where h measures the size of the elements. The approach has similarity to the residual method but differs from it in the use of norms of negative Sobolev spaces corresponding to the given bilinear (energy) form. For clarity the presentation is restricted to one‐dimensional model problems. More specifically, the source, eigenvalue, and parabolic problems are considered involving a linear, self‐adjoint operator of the second order. Generalizations to more general one‐dimensional problems are straightforward, and the results also extend to higher space dimensions; but this involves some additional considerations. The estimates can be used for a practical a‐posteriori assessment of the accuracy of a computed finite element solution, and they provide a basis for the design of adaptive finite element solvers.