A parallel-computation model for nonlinear electromagnetic field analysis by harmonic balance finite element method

This paper presents a parallel computation model for the time-periodic nonlinear electromagnetic field analysis in the frequency domain using harmonic balance finite element method (HBFEM). The proposed model, different from the traditional HBFEM technique that requires large memory and long CPU time, divides the global system matrix into a number of matrices in the frequency domain. Each computation unit has exactly the same number of elements and unknown values. The work involved in calculating the element matrices is equal, therefore the load can be well-balanced and the maximum speed-up will be M times if M processors are available (M is the number of harmonics considered in the electromagnetic field). The model is well-suited to MIMD parallel computer or multiple computers connected by local area networks