Weighted Clément operator and application to the finite element discretization of the axisymmetric Stokes problem

We consider the Stokes problem in an axisymmetric three-dimensional domain with data which are axisymmetric and have angular component equal to zero. We observe that the solution is also axisymmetric and the velocity has also zero angular component, hence the solution satisfies a system of equations in the meridian domain. The weak three-dimensional problem reduces to a two-dimensional one with weighted integrals. The latter is discretized by Taylor–Hood type finite elements. A weighted Clément operator is defined and approximation results are proved. This operator is then used to derive the discrete inf–sup condition and optimal a priori error estimates.