An analysis of the practical DPG method

Abstract: In this work we give a complete error analysis of the Discontinuous Petrov Galerkin (DPG) method, accounting for all the approximations made in its practical implementation. Specifically, we consider the DPG method that uses a trial space consisting of polynomials of degree $p$ on each mesh element. Earlier works showed that there is a "trial-to-test" operator $T$, which when applied to the trial space, defines a test space that guarantees stability. In DPG formulations, this operator $T$ is local: it can be applied element-by-element. However, an infinite dimensional problem on each mesh element needed to be solved to apply $T$. In practical computations, $T$ is approximated using polynomials of some degree $r > p$ on each mesh element. We show that this approximation maintains optimal convergence rates, provided that $r\ge p+N$, where $N$ is the space dimension (two or more), for the Laplace equation. We also prove a similar result for the DPG method for linear elasticity. Remarks on the conditioning of the stiffness matrix in DPG methods are also included.