Sobolev regularity estimation for hp-adaptive finite element methods

Abstract

In this paper we develop an algorithm for estimating the local Sobolev regularity index of a given function by monitoring the decay rate of its Legendre expansion coefficients. On the basis of these local regularities, we design and implement an hp-adaptive finite element method based on employing discontinuous piecewise polynomials, for the approximation of nonlinear systems of hyperbolic conservation laws. The performance of the proposed adaptive strategy is demonstrated numerically.