Fully discrete potential-based finite element methods for a transient eddy current problem (Q836950)

An eddy current model is the quasi-static approximation to a class of very low-frequency electro-magnetic problems. It is frequently used for simulating the eddy currents and computing iron losses in conductors. The authors study the fully discrete finite element approximation to the electric quasi-static Maxwell's equations. They adopt the formulation of the magnetic vector potential and electric scalar potential. By imposing the Coulomb gauge, the authors derive a weak formulation of the eddy current model. Both the magnetic potential and electric potential are discretized by the linear Lagrange finite element methods. The authors prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution of the eddy current problem. Two discrete schemes which are coupled and decoupled respectively are proposed to approximate the continuous problem. The authors obtain a priori error estimates for the discrete solution based on proper assumptions on the regularity of the exact solutions. This is an interesting paper since most theoretical works on this model usually use edge element approximations. Numerical experiments are also given with the TEAM benchmark problem 7 from the electric engineering community.