Error Estimates of a Pressure-Stabilized Characteristics Finite Element Scheme for the Oseen Equations

Error estimates with the optimal convergence order are proved for a pressure-stabilized characteristics finite element scheme for the Oseen equations. The scheme is a combination of Lagrange–Galerkin finite element method and Brezzi–Pitkäranta’s stabilization method. The scheme maintains the advantages of both methods; (i) It is robust for convection-dominated problems and the system of linear equations to be solved is symmetric. (ii) Since the P1 finite element is employed for both velocity and pressure, the number of degrees of freedom is much smaller than that of other typical elements for the equations, e.g., P2/P1. Therefore, the scheme is efficient especially for three-dimensional problems. The theoretical convergence order is recognized by two- and three-dimensional numerical results.