Improved $L^2$ and $H^1$ error estimates for the Hessian discretisation method

Abstract: The Hessian discretisation method (HDM) for fourth order linear elliptic equations provides a unified convergence analysis framework based on three properties namely coercivity, consistency, and limit-conformity. Some examples that fit in this approach include conforming and nonconforming finite element methods, finite volume methods and methods based on gradient recovery operators. A generic error estimate has been established in $L^2$, $H^1$ and $H^2$-like norms in literature. In this paper, we establish improved $L^2$ and $H^1$ error estimates in the framework of HDM and illustrate it on various schemes. Since an improved $L^2$ estimate is not expected in general for finite volume method (FVM), a modified FVM is designed by changing the quadrature of the source term and a superconvergence result is proved for this modified FVM. In addition to the Adini nonconforming finite element method (ncFEM), in this paper, we show that the Morley ncFEM is an example of HDM. Numerical results that justify the theoretical results are also presented.