Optimal Error Estimates With Polynomial Dependence on ε−1 for Mixed Finite Element Methods of the Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes System
Abstract
In this paper, we analyze a first-order convex-splitting mixed finite element scheme for the Cahn--Hilliard--Navier--Stokes system, tracking explicitly how the error constants depend on the interface width ε. Due to the strong nonlinear coupling inherent in the CHNS system and the singular dependence of the Cahn--Hilliard equation on ε, conventional energy-based analyzes often lead to severe dependence of the error constants on ε−1, and may even result in exponential growth. Such dependence significantly limits the applicability of the resulting error estimates in the small-interfacial-thickness regime. To overcome this difficulty, we develop a robust parameter error analysis framework with respect to interfacial thickness ε. In particular, by introducing H−1 approximation properties for the Ritz projection and the Ritz and Stokes quasi-projection operators, together with spectral-type estimates for the discrete perturbed Cahn--Hilliard operator, we effectively control the singular terms arising from the interfacial thickness parameter in the error analysis. Compared with the classical results, which address only the Allen-Cahn or Cahn-Hilliard equation, we adopt a three-term discrete Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality analysis technique and achieve a substantial reduction in the degree of polynomial dependence for the coupled system. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results and to demonstrate the robustness of the method for different parameters of interfacial thickness.
Related
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BibTeX
@misc{gao2026optimal,
title = {{Optimal Error Estimates With Polynomial Dependence on $ε^-1$ for Mixed Finite Element Methods of the Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes System}},
author = {Haijun Gao and Xi Li and Xiaoli Li},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2611.06174},
eprint = {2611.06174},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.06174},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Optimal Error Estimates With Polynomial Dependence on ε^−1 for Mixed Finite Element Methods of the Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes System
AU - Haijun Gao
AU - Xi Li
AU - Xiaoli Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2611.06174
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.06174
AB - In this paper, we analyze a first-order convex-splitting mixed finite element scheme for the Cahn--Hilliard--Navier--Stokes system, tracking explicitly how the error constants depend on the interface width ε. Due to the strong nonlinear coupling inherent in the CHNS system and the singular dependence of the Cahn--Hilliard equation on ε, conventional energy-based analyzes often lead to severe dependence of the error constants on ε^−1, and may even result in exponential growth. Such dependence significantly limits the applicability of the resulting error estimates in the small-interfacial-thickness regime. To overcome this difficulty, we develop a robust parameter error analysis framework with respect to interfacial thickness ε. In particular, by introducing H^−1 approximation properties for the Ritz projection and the Ritz and Stokes quasi-projection operators, together with spectral-type estimates for the discrete perturbed Cahn--Hilliard operator, we effectively control the singular terms arising from the interfacial thickness parameter in the error analysis. Compared with the classical results, which address only the Allen-Cahn or Cahn-Hilliard equation, we adopt a three-term discrete Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality analysis technique and achieve a substantial reduction in the degree of polynomial dependence for the coupled system. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results and to demonstrate the robustness of the method for different parameters of interfacial thickness.
ER -