Finite Element Analysis

The finite-element method is a numerical procedure for obtaining approximate solutions to boundary value problems. It is a general, preeminent approach to solving a wide variety of problems occurring in engineering practice, including those in RF and microwave engineering. It is a powerful tool in the design and characterization of RF and microwave devices. The popularity of the finite-element method can be ascribed to its ability to model very complex geometries and to deal with a variety of media, including inhomogeneous and anisotropic cases. Moreover, the method yields a very sparse matrix that can be generated, stored and solved efficiently. This article describes the basic principle, the numerical formulation, and some applications of the finite-element method for analysis of electromagnetic problems in RF and microwave engineering. It also briefly discusses some computational aspects and advanced topics associated with the method.