A mixed finite element method with reduced symmetry for the standard model in linear viscoelasticity

Abstract: We introduce and analyze a new mixed finite element method with reduced symmetry for the standard linear model in viscoelasticity. Following a previous approach employed for linear elastodynamics, the present problem is formulated as a second-order hyperbolic partial differential equation in which, after using the motion equation to eliminate the displacement unknown, the stress tensor remains as the main variable to be found. The resulting variational formulation is shown to be well-posed, and a class of $\text{H}(\text{div})$-conforming semi-discrete schemes is proved to be convergent. Then, we use the Newmark trapezoidal rule to obtain an associated fully discrete scheme, whose main convergence results are also established. Finally, numerical examples illustrating the performance of the method are reported.