3-D adaptive FEA with weighted node density technique

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a method to create 3-D finite element meshes automatically using the Delaunay tetrahedralization with the weighted node density technique. Using this method, the adaptive finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out for the calculation of the magnetic field of an eddy current verification model to clarify the usefulness of the method. Moreover, the error evaluation function for the adaptive FEA was also discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The method to create the 3-D finite element meshes using the Delaunay tetrahedralization is realized by the weighted node density technique, and Zienkiewicz-Zhu’s error estimator is used as the error evaluation function of the adaptive FEA.

Findings

The magnetic flux density vectors on the node in the error evaluation function for the adaptive FEA should be calculated with the weighted average by the reciprocal of the volume of elements.

Originality/value

This paper describes the method to create 3-D finite element meshes and the comparison among calculation methods of the magnetic flux density vectors on the node for the error estimator.

Citation

Yamaguchi, T., Kawase, Y. and Ishimura, S. (2020), "3-D adaptive FEA with weighted node density technique", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 39 No. 5, pp. 1201-1213. https://doi.org/10.1108/COMPEL-01-2020-0005