Finite element technique for optimal pressure recovery from stream function formulation of viscous flows

Abstract

Following a general analysis of convergence for the finite element solution of the stream function formulation of the Navier-Stokes equation in bounded regions of the plane, an algorithm for pressure recovery is presented. This algorithm, which is easy to implement, is then analyzed and conditions ensuring optimality of the approximation are given. An application is made to a standard conforming cubic macroelement.