Mesh refinement formulations in adaptive finite element methods

This paper presents some new ideas for developing adaptive remeshing strategies. It is shown that correct mesh refinement formulations should be defined at an element level rather than a global level. To accomplish this, permissible element errors are required to be defined This paper describes the methods to determine the permissible element errors. Two mesh refinement formulations are derived according to different accuracy definitions and are compared with the conventional mesh refinement formulation derived at the global level. Numerical examples are shown to explain the features of these mesh refinement formulations. Recommendations are made for use of these mesh refinement formulations.