3-D eddy-current computation with a self-adaptive refinement technique

A method for the adaptive computation of 3-D eddy-current problems is presented. The 3-D eddy-current problem is formulated in terms of the electric intensity (E formulation). Edge elements that impose tangential continuity of the approximation function are employed for the discretization of the problem with the finite element method. An a-posteriori error estimation technique is proposed with the introduction of two error criteria: a) the tangential discontinuity of the magnetic intensity H, and b) the normal discontinuity of the eddy current density J_e. The proposed error estimation technique is employed in a 3-D self-adaptive refinement procedure. Sufficient approximation of the skin effect and calculation of the eddy current distribution is obtained with the proposed method. The implementation of the proposed technique in a problem of 3-D eddy-current computation in a multiply connected conducting body is discussed