Error analysis for a fully-discrete finite element approximation of the unsteady $p(\cdot,\cdot)$-Stokes equations

Abstract

In this paper, we examine a fully-discrete finite element approximation of the unsteady $p(\cdot,\cdot)$-Stokes equations ($i.e.$, $p(\cdot,\cdot)$ is time- and space-dependent), employing a backward Euler step in time and conforming, discretely inf-sup stable finite elements in space. More precisely, we derive error decay rates for the vector-valued velocity field imposing fractional regularity assumptions on the velocity and the kinematic pressure. In addition, we carry out numerical experiments that confirm the optimality of the derived error decay rates in the case $p(\cdot,\cdot)\ge 2$.