A finite element method for domain decomposition with non-matching grids

In this note, we propose and analyse a method for handling interfaces between nonmatching grids based on an approach suggested by Nitsche (1971) for the approximation of Dirichlet boundary conditions. The exposition is limited to self-adjoint elliptic problems, using Poisson's equation as a model. A priori and a posteriori error estimates are given. Some numerical results are included.