Analysis of fully discrete finite element methods for 2D Navier–Stokes equations with critical initial data

First-order convergence in time and space is proved for a fully discrete semi-implicit finite element method for the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations with L2 initial data in convex polygonal domains, without extra regularity assumptions or grid-ratio conditions. The proof utilises the smoothing properties of the Navier–Stokes equations in the analysis of the consistency errors, an appropriate duality argument, and the smallness of the numerical solution in the discrete L2(0, tm; H1) norm when tm is smaller than some constant. Numerical examples are provided to support the theoretical analysis.