Hessian discretisation method for fourth order semi-linear elliptic equations: applications to the von Kármán and Navier--Stokes models

Abstract: This paper deals with the Hessian discretisation method (HDM) for fourth order semi-linear elliptic equations with a trilinear nonlinearity. The HDM provides a generic framework for the convergence analysis of several numerical methods, such as, the conforming and non-conforming finite element methods (ncFEMs) and methods based on gradient recovery (GR) operators. The Adini ncFEM and GR method, a specific scheme that is based on cheap, local reconstructions of higher-order derivatives from piecewise linear functions, are analysed for the first time for fourth order semi-linear elliptic equations with trilinear nonlinearity. Four properties namely, the coercivity, consistency, limit-conformity and compactness enable the convergence analysis in HDM framework that does not require any regularity of the exact solution. Two important problems in applications namely, the Navier--Stokes equations in stream function vorticity formulation and the von K\'{a}rm\'{a}n equations of plate bending are discussed. Results of numerical experiments are presented for the Morley ncFEM and GR method.