Modeling of thin insulating layers with dual 3-D magnetodynamic formulations

The treatment of thin insulating layers between conducting regions is studied in the frame of dual three-dimensional (3-D) magnetodynamic finite element formulations, using either the magnetic field or the magnetic vector potential as the main unknowns. The layers, of which the thickness is assumed to tend to zero, are represented by surface elements on which scalar potentials are defined and coupled with the main field of each formulation. At the discrete level, this coupling is rigorously done through a nodal and edge-elements coupling. Both passive and active conducting regions are considered, i.e., without or with applied voltage or current.