A new weighted residual finite element method for computational electromagnetics in the time domain

Conference · Mon Feb 04 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6037537

Ambrosiano, J J; Brandon, S T ^[1]; Loehner, R ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
2. George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (USA). School of Engineering and Applied Science

Engineers and scientists have become increasingly interested in calculating electromagnetic effects in the time domain. For example, the time domain is especially convenient for studying short (wide band) pulses. For such methods to be generally useful, they must be free of the severe geometric restrictions imposed by traditional finite difference methods. In our research into methods for plasma simulations in realistic geometries, we have developed finite element methods for electromagnetics in the time domain on unstructured grids. Unstructured grids provide maximum flexibility in fitting sample points to the problem, both on boundaries and in the interior. Finite elements provide the most convenient framework for the mathematics as well as for the implementation. We will present a new finite element method for computational electromagnetics on unstructured grids. The method is fast, easy to implement, and 2nd-order accurate. Although we use low-order elements, the method can be shown to preserve the divergence constraints ({nabla}{center dot}B = 0, {nabla}{center dot}E = 0 in vacuum). We also present a numerical benchmark. 11 refs., 3 figs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6037537
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-106408; CONF-9103123--3; ON: DE91008741
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

657002 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Classical & Quantum Mechanics
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
BENCHMARKS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA SIMULATION
SIMULATION
TIME DEPENDENCE