Abstract
This comparison of some a posteriori error estimators aims at empirical evidence for a ranking of their performance for a Poisson model problem with conforming lowest order finite element discretizations. Modified residual-based error estimates compete with averaging techniques and two estimators based on local problem solving. Multiplicative constants are involved to achieve guaranteed upper and lower energy error bounds up to higher order terms. The optimal strategy combines various estimators.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Ainsworth and J.T. Oden, A posteriori error estimators for second order elliptic systems. Part 1. Theoretical foundations and a posteriori error analysis, Comput. Math. Appl. 25(2) (1993) 101–113.
M. Ainsworth and J.T. Oden, A posteriori error estimators for second order elliptic systems. Part 2. An optimal order process for calculating self-equilibrating fluxes, Comput. Math. Appl. 26(9) (1993) 75–87.
M. Ainsworth and J.T. Oden, A unified approach to a posteriori error estimation using element residual methods, Numer. Math. 65 (1993) 23–50.
M. Ainsworth and J.T. Oden, A Posteriori Error Estimation in Finite Element Analysis (Wiley, 2000).
J. Alberty, C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Remarks around 50 lines of Matlab: short finite element implementation, Numer. Algorithms 20 (1999) 117–137.
I. Babuška and A.Miller, A feedback finite element method with a posteriori error estimations. Part I. The finite element method and some basic properties of the a posteriori error estimator, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 61 (1987) 1–40.
I. Babuška and W.C. Rheinboldt, Error estimates for adaptive finite element computations, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 15 (1978) 736–754.
I. Babuška and T. Strouboulis, The Finite ElementMethod and its Reliability (Oxford University Press, 2001).
R.E. Bank and A. Weiser, Some a posteriori error estimators for elliptic partial differential equations, Math. Comp. 44(170) (1985) 283–301.
S. Bartels and C. Carstensen, Each averaging technique yields reliable a posteriori error control in FEM on unstructured grids. Part II. Higher order FEM, Math. Comp. (2001) (in press). Preprint http://www.numerik.uni-kiel.de/reports/2000/00-5.html
S. Bartels and C. Carstensen, Averaging techniques yield reliable a posteriori fiinite element error control for obstacle problems (2001) (submitted). Preprint http://www.numerik.unikiel.de/reports/2001/01-2.html
S. Bartels, C. Carstensen, and G. Dolzmann, Inhomogeneous Dirichlet conditions in a priori and a posteriori finite element error analysis (2001) (in preparation).
R. Becker and R. Rannacher, A feed-back approach to error control in finite element methods: basic analysis and examples, East-West Journal of Numerical Mathematics 4(4) (1996) 237–264.
F. Bornemann, B. Erdmann and R. Kornhuber, A posteriori error estimates for elliptic problems in two and three space dimensions, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 33(3) (1996) 1188–1204.
S.C. Brenner and L.R. Scott, The Mathematical Theory of Finite Element Methods, Texts in Applied Mathematics, Vol. 15 (Springer, New York, 1994).
C. Carstensen, Quasi interpolation and a posteriori error analysis in finite element method, Modél Math. Anal. Numér. 33 (1999) 1187–1202.
C. Carstensen, Merging the Bramble-Pasciak-Steinbach and the Crouzeix-Thomee criterion for H 1-stability of the L 2-projection onto finite element spaces, Math. Comp. 71 (2002) 157–163.
C. Carstensen, An adaptive mesh refining algorithm allowing for an H 1-stable L 2-projection onto Courant finite element spaces (2001) (in preparation).
C. Carstensen and J. Alberty, Averaging techniques for reliable a posteriori FE-error control in elastoplasticity with hardening, Berichtsreihe des Mathematischen Seminars Kiel, Technical report 00-23, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel (2000). Preprint http://www.numerik.uni-kiel.de/reports/2000/00-23.html
C. Carstensen and S. Bartels, Each averaging technique yields reliable a posteriori error control in FEM on unstructured grids part I. Low order conforming, nonconforming, and mixed FEM, Math. Comp. (2001). In press; http://www.numerik.uni-kiel.de/reports/1999/99-11.html
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Constants in Clément-interpolation error and residual based a posteriori error estimates in Finite Element Methods, East-West Journal of Numerical Analysis 8(3) (2000) 153–256.
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Fully reliable localised error control in the FEM, SIAM J. Sci. Comput. 21(4) (2000) 1465–1484.
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Averaging technique for FE-a posteriori error control in elasticity. Part I. Conforming FEM, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 190 (2001) 2483–2498.
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Averaging technique for FE-a posteriori error control in elasticity. Part II. λ-independent estimates, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 190(35/36) (2001) 4663–4675.
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, Averaging technique for FE-a posteriori error control in elasticity. Part III. Locking-free nonconforming FEM, Comput.Methods Appl.Mech. Engrg. (2001) (accepted). Preprint http://www.numerik.uni-kiel.de/reports/2000/00-11.html
C. Carstensen and S.A. Funken, A posteriori error control in low-order finite element discretisations of incompressible stationary flow problems, Math. Comp. 70(236) (2001) 1353–1381.
C. Carstensen and R. Verfürth, Edge residuals dominate a posteriori error estimates for low order finite element methods, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 36(5) (1999) 1571–1587.
P.G. Ciarlet, The Finite Element Method for Elliptic Problems (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1978).
W. Doerfler, A convergent adaptive algorithm for Poisson's equation, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 33(3) (1996) 1106–1124.
W. Doerfler and R.H. Nochetto, Small data oscillation implies the saturation assumption, Numerische Mathematik, DOI 10.1007/S002110100321; Online publication: 25 July 2001.
K. Eriksson, D. Estep, P. Hansbo and C. Johnson, Introduction to adaptive methods for differential equations, Acta Numerica (1995) 105–158.
P. Ladeveze and D. Leguillon, Error estimate procedure in the finite element method and applications, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 20(3) (1983) 485–509.
P. Morin, R.H. Nochetto and K.G. Siebert, Data oscillation and convergence of adaptive FEM, SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 38(2) (2000) 466–488.
P. Morin, R.H. Nochetto and K.G. Siebert, Local problems on stars: A posteriori error estimators, convergence, and performance, Preprint.
R. Nochetto, Removing the saturation assumption in a posteriori error analysis, Rend. Sci. Mat. Appl. A 127 (1994) 67–82.
L.E. Payne and H.F. Weinberger, An optimal Poincaré inequality for convex domains, Archive Rat. Mech. Anal. 5 (1960) 286–292.
R. Rodriguez, Some remarks on Zienkiewicz-Zhu estimator, Internat. J. Numer. Methods PDE 10 (1994) 625–635.
R. Rodriguez, A posteriori error analysis in the finite element method, in: Finite Element Methods. 50 years of the Courant Element, Conference Held at the University of Jyvaeskylae, Finland, 1993, Lecture Notes in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Vol. 164 (1994) pp. 625–635.
T. Strouboulis, I. Babuška and S.K. Gangaraj, Guaranteed computable bounds for the exact error in the finite element solution. Part II. Bounds for the energy norm of the error in two dimensions, Internat. J. Numer. Methods Engrg. 47(1-3) (2000) 427–475.
R. Verfürth, A Review of A Posteriori Error Estimation and Adaptive Mesh Refinement Techniques (Wiley-Teubner, 1996).
O.C. Zienkiewicz and J.Z. Zhu, A simple error estimator and adaptive procedure for practical engineering analysis, Internat. J. Numer. Methods Engrg. 24 (1987) 337–357.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carstensen, C., Bartels, S. & Klose, R. An experimental survey of a posteriori Courant finite element error control for the Poisson equation. Advances in Computational Mathematics 15, 79–106 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014269318616
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014269318616