Approximate solutions for axisymmetric exterior-field problems by the combined scheme of finite elements and finite differences (Q2640333)

For the numerical solution of an axisymmetric two-dimensional exterior- field problem for the equation \(1/\rho [\nabla \cdot (\rho k\cdot \nabla \phi)]=0\) with mixed boundary conditions, the authors propose to use a transformed bounded domain obtained by conformal mapping from the original one and then the combined scheme of finite elements and finite differences developed by the third author, \textit{A. Kieda} and \textit{K. Nishioka} [J. Franklin Inst., vol. 326, No.1, 131-137 (1989; Zbl 0676.65108)]. Numerical results for the following exterior-field problems are presented: A conducting sphere in the presence of an infinite ground plate, a conducting torus in free space, and a conducting sphere in an inhomogeneous dielectric space. Some numerical results are compared with the exact solutions.