Solution of nonlinear Eddy current problems using residual finite element method for space and time discretization

This paper presents a general approach for solving nonlinear eddy current problems using the Finite Element method. In formulating the problem, both the space and time domains are discretized into finite elements and the weighted residual is minimized over each domain respectively. This procedure results in a general recurrence equation in terms of the magnetic vector potential distribution at three successive instants of time. By employing various forms for the weighting function in the time domain, the general recurrence equation is reduced into well known time stepping formulae. The accuracy of these several time stepping formulation is examined by calculating the M.V.P. distribution in a steel plate. Also, to verify the formulation for two dimensional problems the magnetic vector potential distribution in a steel plate subjected to a travelling magnetic field is calculated using the developed technique.