On generalized binomial laws to evaluate finite element accuracy: toward applications for adaptive mesh refinement

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide new perspectives on the relative finite elements accuracy. Starting from a geometrical interpretation of the error estimate which can be deduced from Bramble-Hilbert lemma, we derive a probability law that evaluates the relative accuracy, considered as a random variable, between two finite elements $P_k$ and $P_m$, ($k < m$). We extend this probability law to get a cumulated probabilistic law for two main applications. The first one concerns a family of meshes and the second one is dedicated to a sequence of simplexes which constitute a given mesh. Both of this applications might be relevant for adaptive mesh refinement.