Abstract

In this paper, we combine the usual finite element method with a Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) mapping, derived in terms of an infinite Fourier series, to study the solvability and Galerkin approximations of an exterior transmission problem arising in non-linear incompressible 2d-elasticity. We show that the variational formulation can be written in a Stokes-type mixed form with a linear constraint and a non-linear main operator. Then, we provide the uniqueness of solution for the continuous and discrete formulations, and derive a Cea-type estimate for the associated error. In particular, our error analysis considers the practical case in which the DtN mapping is approximated by the corresponding finite Fourier series. Finally, a reliable a posteriori error estimate, well suited for adaptive computations, is also given. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.