Fractional-step methods and finite elements with symmetric stabilization for the transient Oseen problem

This paper deals with the spatial and time discretization of the transient Oseen equations. Finite elements with symmetric stabilization in space are combined with several time-stepping schemes (monolithic and fractional-step). Quasi-optimal (in space) and optimal (in time) error estimates are established for smooth solutions in all flow regimes. We first analyze monolithic time discretizations using the Backward Differentation Formulas of order 1 and 2 (BDF1 and BDF2). We derive a new estimate on the time-average of the pressure error featuring the same robustness with respect to the Reynolds number as the velocity estimate. Then, we analyze fractional-step pressure-projection methods using BDF1. The stabilization of velocities and pressures can be treated either implicitly or explicitly. Numerical results illustrate the main theoretical findings.