IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, VOL. 2 5 , NO.

4, JULY 1989 2965

AN APPROACH FOR AUTOMATIC ADAPTIVE MESH REFINEMENT

IN FINITE ELEMENT COMPUTATION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS
Adroaldo RAIZER*, Gerard MEUNIER, Jean-Louis COULOMB
Laboratoire d'Electrotechnique de Grenoble (LEG)
CNRS-UA 355, ENSIEG, B.P 46,38402 SAINT M A R T I N D'HERES-FRANCE

*Leaved from Depto. Engenharirt Eletrica (GRUCAD)

UFSC CP.476
88000 FLORIANOPOLIS SC B R A Z I L
Abstract
This paper presents an approach for the estimation of errors where H is the magnetic field intensity, J is the current density,
in adaptive finite element mesh generation. The method utilized is B is the flux density and p is the magnetic permeability.
based on the insufficient approximation of vector and scalar
potential, in the finite element method, due to the discontinuities A vector potential A is introduced so that
of boundary conditions between elements. Analyses are presented
in two dimensions but can be utilized in three dimensions. The B = curl A . (4)
method proposed is easily employed and can reduce the number of
iterations of the process. Equation (2) is immediately verified

INTRODUCTION Div curl A = 0 (5)

But, if
In recent years, several methods for error estimation for
adaptive finite elements mesh generation have been proposed. H = l/p B = l/p curl A (6)
Methods using Ampere's Law, for verification of boundary
continuity between elements in vector potential problems, are is used, equation (1) is not verified: curl A is not continous at
applied with success [ 41 , [ 71. (fig. 0) the interface between elements when the F.E.M is used.

The normal component of B is continuous, not the tangential

component of B .
For magnetostatic scalar potential problems, the dual analysis
is of the same kind.
The tangential component of H is continuous, not the normal
component of H .

FRROR FORMUI ATION

A different approach to error analysis when F.E.M. is used,

based on an insufficient approximation of vector potential or
scalar potential, is proposed.

For magnetostatic vector potential problems :

Curl (H + A H ) = J (7)
Div (B + A B ) = 0 (8)
But, in some problems, the approximation may be insufficient
and may present several difficulties to implement in three with the constitutive relations
dimensional problems.
In this paper a different method based also on boundary B = p H (3)
continuity between elements is proposed. AB = p A H (9)
The discontinuity of the tangential component of the flux
density in vector potential problems and the discontinuity of the with
normal component of the magnetic field in scalar potential
problems are analysed. B = curl A (4)
Due to these discontinuities Maxwell's equations are not A B = curl e (10)
verified in finite element method.
This method,which is characterized by the use of Maxwell's where e is the unknown error
equations for a direct calculation of errors , is easily extended to
three dimensional problems. From (7)

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS PROBLEM$ curl A H = J - curl H (7)

Most static electromagnetic field problems are defined by Equations ( 7 ) , (3) ,(9), (4) and (10) lead to a differential
Maxwell's equations. The form in terms of vector potential A is equation of the form
used as follows
curl l/p curl e = J - curl l / p curl A (11)
Curl H = J
Div B = 0
with the constitutive relation

0018-9464/89/0700-2965$01.000 1989 IEEE

2966

We apply the galerkin method I In two dimensional vector potential problems, for each
element the equations written as follows are used
Ina (curl l/p curl e ) dC2 = IQ a (J - curl l / curl
~ A ) dQ ( 1 2)
[Sij] [Aj] = [Fi] (18)
Using the Green-Gauss theorem and vector identities becomes
where
-IQ curl ai l/p curl e dR + Ir n A (aj l / k curl e ) . dT= js2 ai J dR i
Sij = IQ 1 / p V a i V a j dR
In curl ai l / p curl A dR - Ir nA (a]l / p curl A ) . d r (13)
Fi= jfi o l i J d R
where n is the normal vector, a i are basis functions and
denotes the interface between the elements. after

Setting the residual of the system to zero [Sij] [ej] = [Bi]

r= In ai J d o + IQ curl a i l / p curl A dQ=O (14) where

and Bi = jr l / p ai . a olj/dn d r . Aj (22)

Ir nA (aj l/p curl e). dT=O where r denotes the interface between elements.
For each element, the following system of linear algebraic The solution of the system gives nodal values of the error
equations can be expressed as which allow the mesh refinement to be adapted automatically.

IQ curl a i 111 curl e d R = jr n A ( a j 1 / curl

~ A). dr, (16) In two dimensional scalar potential problems, the following
equations are used, for each element.
where denotes the interface between the elements.
[R~JI
[ @ j I= [oI (23)
For magnetostatic scalar potential problems, the system is of
the same kind, and for each element the system of equations is where
written as follows
Rij = IQ p V a i . V a j dR . (24)
Ifi p grad ai grad e d R = Ir a j p grad @.n dT (17)
after
where r denotes the interface between the elements.
[Rij][ej] = [Ci]

BOUNDARY CONTlN UlTY BETWEEN ELEM ENT$ where

In the preceding section, the error which may occur in the Ci = jr p ai d aj/dn d r @j (26)
finite-element method was defined.
The errors in equations (16) and (17) are directly derived r
where denotes the interface between elements.
from the boundary continuity between elements. The solution of the system gives nodal values of the error
In vector potential problems the error is derived from B t which allow the mesh refinement to be adapted automatically.
discontinuity (Fig . 1 ), BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

To solve the system of equations (18) and (23), the boundary

conditions used are Neumann's and Dirichlet's.
To solve the system of equations (21) and (25), the boundary
conditions used are the same as previously with all dirichlet
boudaries set a zero .

RESULTS

Fig. 1 Bt discontinuity. The proposed error estimator has been incorporated into an
adaptive process to refine the mesh using a Delaunay
where Bt is calculated with the three nodal points triangulation.
To illustrate the error estimator proposed, two problems have
In scalar potential problems the error is derived from H n been selected .
discontinuity (Fig. 2 ), The first is a classical problem in scalar or vector potential
problems, with the magnetic permeability equal to 1000.

Fig. 2 Hn discontinuity initial mesh

where Hn is calculated with the three nodal points.

THE ERROR SYSTEM EQUATIONS

The usual interpolation is used.

 2961

variation of flux density (AB)

Y
.. .

3
~

0 1
u15

0 05

-0 I

variation of flux density (AB)

-1 I5
I
1 -0.15 -0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 x

CONCLUSION

This paper presents a new method for error estimation .

The error estimator presented here is based on the analysis of
continuity of H and B at the boundaries between elements.
The advantages of this approach are the easy formulation and
final mesh the easy application in two and three dimensions.
The results show that the method can be applied efficiently .
It Is very important to notice that the procedure for error
analysis can reduce the number of iterations of the process of
adaptive mesh refinement .

REFERENCES
The second problem is a D-C machine.
[ 1] A. Bossavit, "Le calcul des courants de Foucault, en trois
dimensions, en presence de corps a haute perrneabilite
magnbtique", Revue de KIhvsiaue app liauee n"7097, 1988.

[ 2 ] A. Bossavit, "On the condition" H normal to the wall" -in

.
magnetic fields problems", IJNME-24, 1987, pp1941-50.

I. Baduska and W.C. Rheinbold, "A. Posteriori error

estimates for the finite element method", IJNME-12, 1978,
p p 1597-1615.

C. Calmels, "Un mailleur auto-adaptatif pour Fluxlab",

Master thesis, INPG-FRANCE, 1986.

G. Dhatt and G. Touzot, "Yne sresentation de la methode des

&$ments finis", Paris : Maloine S.A. 1984.
flux density (B) [ 6 ] J.C. Sabonnadiere et J.L. Coulomb, "Elements finis et C A P ,
I Y Paris : Hermes S.A. 1986.

[7] Song-Yop Hahn,C.Calmels,G.Meunier,J-L Coulomb," A pos-

0 1
teriori error estimates for the finite element method"
Jransactions on Maanetics. Vol.MAG-24,No.l ,January 1988
pp.315-317.
0.05

- 1 05

-0 I

- 15