Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2002
The paper deals with some mixed finite element methods on a classof anisotropic meshes based on tetrahedra and prismatic (pentahedral)elements. Anisotropic localinterpolation error estimates are derived in some anisotropic weighted Sobolevspaces. As particularapplications, the numerical approximation by mixed methods of the Laplace equationin domainswith edges is investigated where anisotropic finiteelement meshes are appropriate. Optimal error estimates are obtained using some anisotropic regularity results of thesolutions.