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This paper introduces an extension of the Morley element for approximating solutions to biharmonic equations. Traditionally limited to piecewise quadratic polynomials on triangular elements, the extension leverages weak Galerkin finite element methods to accommodate higher degrees of polynomials and the flexibility of general polytopal elements. By utilizing the Schur complement of the weak Galerkin method, the extension allows for fewest local degrees of freedom while maintaining sufficient accuracy and stability for the numerical solutions. The numerical scheme incorporates locally constructed weak tangential derivatives and weak second order partial derivatives, resulting in an accurate approximation of the biharmonic equation. Optimal order error estimates in both a discrete H 2 norm and the usual L 2 norm are established to assess the accuracy of the numerical approximation. Additionally, numerical results are presented to validate the developed theory and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a conforming discontinuous Galerkin (CDG) finite element method, discontinuous P k polynomials are employed. To connect discontinuous functions, the inter-element traces, { u h } and { ∇ u h } , are usually defined as some averages in discontinuous Galerkin finite element methods. But in this CDG finite element method, they are defined as projections of a lifted P k + 4 polynomial from four P k polynomials on neighboring triangles. With properly chosen weak Hessian spaces, when tested by discontinuous polynomials, the variation form can have no inter-element integral, neither any stabilizer. That is, the bilinear form is the same as that of conforming finite elements for solving the biharmonic equation. Such a conforming discontinuous Galerkin finite element method converges four orders above the optimal order, i.e., the P k solution has an O (h k + 5) convergence in L 2 -norm, and an O (h k + 3) convergence in H 2 -norm. A local post-process is defined, which lifts the P k solution to a P k + 4 quasi-optimal solution. Numerical tests are provided, confirming the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]