A three dimensional adaptive finite element method for magnetostatic problems

A three dimensional adaptive finite element method for magnetostatic field problems is presented. Local errors are estimated from the discontinuity of the tangential components of the magnetic field intensity vector at the interfaces between elements in the finite element method, and mesh refinement is carried out by using a three-dimensional bisection method. The elements are refined according to the amount of error estimated. It is shown that the proposed method is easily used and acceptable for three-dimensional magnetostatic field problems.