An a posteriori error estimator for anisotropic refinement

Summary.

Besides an algorithm for local refinement, an a posteriori error estimator is the basic tool of every adaptive finite element method. Using information generated by such an error estimator the refinement of the grid is controlled. For 2nd order elliptic problems we present an error estimator for anisotropically refined grids, like $n$-d cuboidal and 3-d prismatic grids, that gives correct information about the size of the error; additionally it generates information about the direction into which some element has to be refined to reduce the error in a proper way. Numerical examples are presented for 2-d rectangular and 3-d prismatic grids.