A MIXED FACE-EDGE FINITE-ELEMENT FORMULATION FOR 3D MAGNETOSTATIC PROBLEMS

A mixed variational formulation for the solution of three dimensional magnetostatic problems, based on both the magnetic field H and the mag netic induction field B, has been developed. The approach is based upo n the minimisation of the residual in the fulfilment of the constituti ve relationship, imposing Maxwell's equations as constraints. A finite element discretisation has been realised by using face and edge eleme nts to interpolate B and Fl., respectively, in order to guarantee the physical continuity properties. The mathematical formulation, its code development and computational results are presented and discussed in detail.