An Eulerian finite element method for the linearized Navier–Stokes problem in an evolving domain

Abstract

Abstract The paper addresses an error analysis of an Eulerian finite element method used for solving a linearized Navier–Stokes problem in a time-dependent domain. In this study, the domain’s evolution is assumed to be known and independent of the solution to the problem at hand. The numerical method employed in the study combines a standard backward differentiation formula-type time-stepping procedure with a geometrically unfitted finite element discretization technique. Additionally, Nitsche’s method is utilized to enforce the boundary conditions. The paper presents a convergence estimate for several velocity–pressure elements that are inf-sup stable. The estimate demonstrates optimal order convergence in the energy norm for the velocity component and a scaled $L^{2}(H^{1})$-type norm for the pressure component.