Nonconforming virtual element method for 2mth order partial differential equations in $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$ with $$m>n$$

Abstract

The $$H^m$$ -nonconforming virtual elements of any order k on any shape of polytope in $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$ with constraints $$m> n$$ and $$k\ge m$$ are constructed in a universal way. A generalized Green’s identity for $$H^m$$ inner product with $$m>n$$ is derived, which is essential to devise the $$H^m$$ -nonconforming virtual elements. By means of the local $$H^m$$ projection and a stabilization term using only the boundary degrees of freedom, the $$H^m$$ -nonconforming virtual element methods are proposed to approximate solutions of the m-harmonic equation. The norm equivalence of the stabilization on the kernel of the local $$H^m$$ projection is proved by using the bubble function technique, the Poincare inquality and the trace inequality, which implies the well-posedness of the virtual element methods. The optimal error estimates for the $$H^m$$ -nonconforming virtual element methods are achieved from an estimate of the weak continuity and the error estimate of the canonical interpolation. Finally, the implementation of the nonconforming virtual element method is discussed.