Simulation of the quasi‐static electric field by an electric current vector potential approximated by edge elements

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present work is to find an efficient solution concerning the computational effort of quasi‐static electric field (QSEF) problems involving anisotropic conductivity and permittivity in the frequency domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical simulations are carried out with tetrahedral nodal finite elements of first‐ and second‐order and with Withney elements. The solution of the boundary value problem with the aid of the electric scalar potential approximated by nodal finite elements is compared with those by the electric current vector potential represented by edge finite elements.

Findings

The simulation with an electric current vector potential approximated by the edge elements of first‐order prevail over that by the electric scalar potential approximated by nodal elements of second‐order concerning the memory requirements and the computation time at comparable accuracy.

Originality/value

The application of edge finite elements to solve QSEF problems considering an anisotropic complex conductivity in 3D.

Citation

Hollaus, K., Wagner, B. and Bíró, O. (2005), "Simulation of the quasi‐static electric field by an electric current vector potential approximated by edge elements", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 581-590. https://doi.org/10.1108/03321640510586196