High order cut finite element methods for the Stokes problem

Abstract

We develop a high order cut finite element method for the Stokes problem based on general inf-sup stable finite element spaces. We focus in particular on composite meshes consisting of one mesh that overlaps another. The method is based on a Nitsche formulation of the interface condition together with a stabilization term. Starting from inf-sup stable spaces on the two meshes, we prove that the resulting composite method is indeed inf-sup stable and as a consequence optimal a priori error estimates hold.