Guaranteed computable error bounds for conforming and nonconforming finite element analyses in planar elasticity

We obtain fully computable a posteriori error estimators for the energy norm of the error in second-order conforming and nonconforming finite element approximations in planar elasticity. These estimators are completely free of unknown constants and give a guaranteed numerical upper bound on the norm of the error. The estimators are shown to also provide local lower bounds, up to a constant and higher-order data oscillation terms. Numerical examples are presented illustrating the theory and confirming the effectiveness of the estimator.