Error Analysis of Projection Methods for Non inf-sup Stable Mixed Finite Elements: The Navier-Stokes Equations

We obtain error bounds for a modified Chorin-Teman (Euler non-incremental) method for non inf-sup stable mixed finite elements applied to the evolutionary Navier-Stokes equations. The analysis of the classical Euler non-incremental method is obtained as a particular case. We prove that the modified Euler non-incremental scheme has an inherent stabilization that allows the use of non inf-sup stable mixed finite elements without any kind of extra added stabilization. We show that it is also true in the case of the classical Chorin-Temam method. The relation of the methods with the so called pressure stabilized Petrov Galerkin method is established. We do not assume non-local compatibility conditions for the solution.