A rationale for 'edge-elements' in 3-D fields computations

Abstract

A justification for the use of finite elements with edge-attached degrees of freedom (edge-elements) is sought in some mathematical structures that underlie eddy-current theory. An introduction to so-called mixed methods in magnetostatics is given, and two dual methods for eddy-current computations, both making use of edge elements, are shown to derive from these considerations.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>