# Error estimates for physics informed neural networks approximating the Navier-Stokes equations

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.09346 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.09346/

## Key facts

- Cited by 63 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 20 of its 54 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 17 Mar 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 20 of 20)

- [Fourier Neural Operator for Parametric Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.08895/) (2020)
- [B-PINNs: Bayesian Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Forward and Inverse PDE Problems with Noisy Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.06097/) (2020)
- [Stronger generalization bounds for deep nets via a compression approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1802.05296/) (2018)
- [Hidden Physics Models: Machine Learning of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1708.00588/) (2017)
- [Deep learning-based numerical methods for high-dimensional parabolic partial differential equations and backward stochastic differential equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.04702/) (2017)
- [Estimates on the generalization error of Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) for approximating PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.16144/) (2020)
- [Parallel Physics-Informed Neural Networks via Domain Decomposition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.10013/) (2021)
- [Estimates on the generalization error of Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) for approximating a class of inverse problems for PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.01138/) (2020)
- [Long-time integration of parametric evolution equations with physics-informed DeepONets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.05384/) (2021)
- [On the approximation of functions by tanh neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.08938/) (2021)
- [Physics-informed neural networks for inverse problems in supersonic flows](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.11821/) (2022)
- [A Theoretical Analysis of Deep Neural Networks and Parametric PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1904.00377/) (2019)
- [When Do Extended Physics-Informed Neural Networks (XPINNs) Improve Generalization?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.09444/) (2021)
- [Error analysis for physics informed neural networks (PINNs) approximating Kolmogorov PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.14473/) (2021)
- [Deep learning observables in computational fluid dynamics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.03040/) (2019)
- [Hidden Fluid Mechanics: A Navier-Stokes Informed Deep Learning Framework for Assimilating Flow Visualization Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1808.04327/) (2018)
- [Physics Informed Neural Networks for Simulating Radiative Transfer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.13291/) (2020)
- [On the convergence of physics informed neural networks for linear second-order elliptic and parabolic type PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.01806/) (2020)
- [Iterative Surrogate Model Optimization (ISMO): An active learning algorithm for PDE constrained optimization with deep neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2008.05730/) (2020)
- [Enhancing accuracy of deep learning algorithms by training with low-discrepancy sequences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.12564/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 30 of 63)

- [From PINNs to PIKANs: Recent Advances in Physics-Informed Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.13228/) (2024)
- [Can Physics-Informed Neural Networks beat the Finite Element Method?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.04107/) (2023)
- [Generic bounds on the approximation error for physics-informed (and) operator learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.11393/) (2022)
- [A unified scalable framework for causal sweeping strategies for Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and their temporal decompositions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.14227/) (2023)
- [Augmented Physics-Informed Neural Networks (APINNs): A gating network-based soft domain decomposition methodology](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.08939/) (2022)
- [Unveiling the optimization process of Physics Informed Neural Networks: How accurate and competitive can PINNs be?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.04230/) (2024)
- [How important are activation functions in regression and classification? A survey, performance comparison, and future directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.02681/) (2022)
- [Recent Developments in Machine Learning Methods for Stochastic Control and Games](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.10257/) (2023)
- [Is L2 Physics-Informed Loss Always Suitable for Training Physics-Informed Neural Network?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.02016/) (2022)
- [MultiAdam: Parameter-wise Scale-invariant Optimizer for Multiscale Training of Physics-informed Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.02816/) (2023)
- [Machine learning and domain decomposition methods -- a survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.14050/) (2023)
- [Preconditioning for Physics-Informed Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.00531/) (2024)
- [Challenges and Advancements in Modeling Shock Fronts with Physics-Informed Neural Networks: A Review and Benchmarking Study](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.17379/) (2025)
- [On the Generalization of PINNs outside the training domain and the Hyperparameters influencing it](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.07557/) (2023)
- [GFN: A graph feedforward network for resolution-invariant reduced operator learning in multifidelity applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.03569/) (2024)
- [Symbolic Regression for PDEs using Pruned Differentiable Programs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.07009/) (2023)
- [Meta Learning of Interface Conditions for Multi-Domain Physics-Informed Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.12669/) (2022)
- [Energy Dissipation Preserving Physics Informed Neural Network for Allen-Cahn Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.08760/) (2024)
- [Error convergence and engineering-guided hyperparameter search of PINNs: towards optimized I-FENN performance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.03918/) (2023)
- [Entropy-dissipation Informed Neural Network for McKean-Vlasov Type PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.11205/) (2023)
- [Approximating High-Dimensional Minimal Surfaces with Physics-Informed Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.02589/) (2023)
- [Physics-Aware Neural Implicit Solvers for multiscale, parametric PDEs with applications in heterogeneous media](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.19019/) (2024)
- [Tackling the Curse of Dimensionality in Fractional and Tempered Fractional PDEs with Physics-Informed Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.11708/) (2024)
- [Neural Operators Can Play Dynamic Stackelberg Games](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.09644/) (2024)
- [BubbleOKAN: A Physics-Informed Interpretable Neural Operator for High-Frequency Bubble Dynamics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.03965/) (2025)
- [Higher Order Approximation Rates for ReLU CNNs in Korobov Spaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.11275/) (2025)
- [Prediction error certification for PINNs: Theory, computation, and application to Stokes flow](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.07994/) (2025)
- [Convergence analysis of unsupervised Legendre-Galerkin neural networks for linear second-order elliptic PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.08900/) (2022)
- [Improved Uncertainty Quantification in Physics-Informed Neural Networks Using Error Bounds and Solution Bundles](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.06459/) (2025)
- [Error analysis for deep neural network approximations of parametric hyperbolic conservation laws](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.07362/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We prove rigorous bounds on the errors resulting from the approximation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with (extended) physics informed neural networks. We show that the underlying PDE residual can be made arbitrarily small for tanh neural networks with two hidden layers. Moreover, the total error can be estimated in terms of the training error, network size and number of quadrature points. The theory is illustrated with numerical experiments.