Abstract
In this paper, we propose a theoretical study of the approximation properties of NURBS spaces, which are used in Isogeometric Analysis. We obtain error estimates that are explicit in terms of the mesh-size h, the degree p and the global regularity, measured by the parameter k. Our approach covers the approximation with global regularity from C 0 up to C k–1, with 2k − 1 ≤ p. Notice that the interesting case of higher regularity, up to k = p, is still open. However, our results give an indication of the role of the smoothness k in the approximation properties, and offer a first mathematical justification of the potential of Isogeometric Analysis based on globally smooth NURBS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Auricchio F., Beirão da Veiga L., Buffa A., Lovadina C., Reali A., Sangalli G.: A fully “locking-free” isogeometric approach for plane linear elasticity problems: a stream function formulation. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 197, 160–172 (2007)
Auricchio, F., Beirão da Veiga, L., Lovadina, C., Reali, A.: The importance of the exact satisfaction of the incompressibility constraint in nonlinear elasticity: mixed FEMs versus NURBS-based approximations. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. (2010). doi:10.1016/j.cma.2008.06.004
Bazilevs Y., Beirão da Veiga L., Cottrell J.A., Hughes T.J.R., Sangalli G.: Isogeometric analysis: approximation, stability and error estimates for h-refined meshes. Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci. 16, 1031–1090 (2006)
Bazilevs Y., Calo V.M., Cottrell J.A., Hughes T.J.R., Reali A., Scovazzi G.: Variational multiscale residual-based turbulence modeling for large eddy simulation of incompressible flows. Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 197(1–4), 173–201 (2007)
Benson, D.J., Bazilevs, Y., Hsu, M.C., Hughes, T.J.R.: Isogeometric Shell Analysis: The Reissner-Mindlin Shell. ICES Technical Report 09–05 (2009)
Ciarlet P.G., Raviart P.-A.: Interpolation theory over curved elements, with applications to finite element methods. Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 1, 217–249 (1972)
Cottrell J.A., Reali A., Bazilevs Y., Hughes T.J.R.: Isogeometric analysis of structural vibrations. Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 195, 5257–5296 (2006)
Cottrell J.A., Hughes T.J.R., Reali A.: Studies of refinement and continuity in isogeometric structural analysis. Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 196, 4160–4183 (2007)
de Boor, C.: A practical guide to splines. In: Applied Mathematical Sciences, vol. 27, revised edn. Springer, New York (2001)
Davis P.J.: Interpolation and Approximation. Dover, New York (1975)
Dubeau F., Savoie J.: Best error bounds for odd and even degree deficient splines. SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 34(3), 1167–1184 (1997)
Evans, J., Bazilevs, Y., Babuska, I., Hughes, T.: N-widths, sup-infs, and optimality ratios for the k-version of the isogeometric finite element method. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. (2010)
Farin G.E.: NURBS Curves and Surfaces: From Projective Geometry to Practical Use. A. K. Peters, Ltd., Natick (1995)
Gómez H., Calo V.M., Bazilevs Y., Hughes T.J.R.: Isogeometric analysis of the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field model. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 197, 4333–4352 (2008)
Hughes T.J.R., Cottrell J.A., Bazilevs Y.: Isogeometric analysis: CAD, finite elements, NURBS, exact geometry and mesh refinement. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 194, 4135–4195 (2005)
Hughes T.J.R., Reali A., Sangalli G.: Duality and unified analysis of discrete approximations in structural dynamics and wave propagation: comparison of p-method finite elements with k-method NURBS. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 197, 4104–4124 (2008)
Lipton, S., Evans, J.A., Bazilevs, Y., Elguedj, T., Hughes, T.J.R.: Robustness Of Isogeometric Structural Discretizations Under Severe Mesh Distortion, ICES Technical Report 09-06 (2009)
Schumaker, L.L.: Spline functions: basic theory, 3rd edn. Cambridge Mathematical Library. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2007)
Schwab C.: p- and hp- Finite Element Methods. Theory and Applications in Solid and Fluid Mechanics. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1998)
Waldron S.: L p error bounds for Hermite interpolation and the associated Wirtinger inequalities. Constr. Approx. 13(4), 461–479 (1997)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beirão da Veiga, L., Buffa, A., Rivas, J. et al. Some estimates for h–p–k-refinement in Isogeometric Analysis. Numer. Math. 118, 271–305 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00211-010-0338-z
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00211-010-0338-z