H$^2-$ Korn's Inequality and the Nonconforming Elements for The Strain Gradient Elastic Model

Abstract

We establish a new H2 Korn's inequality and its discrete analog, which greatly simplify the construction of nonconforming elements for a linear strain gradient elastic model. The Specht triangle [41] and the NZT tetrahedron [45] are analyzed as two typical representatives for robust nonconforming elements in the sense that the rate of convergence is independent of the small material parameter. We construct new regularized interpolation estimate and the enriching operator for both elements, and prove the error estimates under minimal smoothness assumption on the solution. Numerical results are consistent with the theoretical prediction.