Finite element analysis of the nearly incompressible linear elasticity eigenvalue problem with variable coefficients

Abstract

In this paper we present a mathematical and numerical analysis of an eigenvalue problem associated to the elasticity-Stokes equations stated in two and three dimensions. Both problems are related through the Herrmann pressure. Employing the Babu\v ska--Brezzi theory, it is proved that the resulting continuous and discrete variational formulations are well-posed. In particular, the finite element method is based on general inf-sup stables pairs for the Stokes system, such that, Taylor--Hood finite elements. By using a general approximation theory for compact operators, we obtain optimal order error estimates for the eigenfunctions and a double order for the eigenvalues. Under mild assumptions, we have that these estimates hold with constants independent of the Lam\'e coefficient $\lambda$. In addition, we carry out the reliability and efficiency analysis of a residual-based a posteriori error estimator for the spectral problem. We report a series of numerical tests in order to assess the performance of the method and its behavior when the nearly incompressible case of elasticity is considered.