Adaptive finite element methods for elliptic problems: Abstract framework and applications

Abstract

We consider a general abstract framework of a continuous elliptic problem set on a Hilbert space V that is approximated by a family of (discrete) problems set on a finite-dimensional space of finite dimension not necessarily included into V . We give a series of realistic conditions on an error estimator that allows to conclude that the marking strategy of bulk type leads to the geometric convergence of the adaptive algorithm. These conditions are then verified for different concrete problems like convectionreaction- diffusion problems approximated by a discontinuous Galerkin method with an estimator of residual type or obtained by equilibrated fluxes. Numerical tests that confirm the geometric convergence are presented. © EDP Sciences, SMAI 2010.