Application and development of time-domain finite element method on EM analysis

The principles and new development of the time-domain finite element method (TDFEM) for 3D EM radiation and scattering problems is reviewed in this paper. Firstly, the principles and fundamental formulas of TDFEM are introduced. Then, some problems encountered in the implement of TDFEM, such as mesh truncation of the unbounded free space, solution of large-scale matrix equation in each time step and corresponding resolution schemes are discussed. Finally, comments and developing trends of TDFEM are presented, including the hybrid methods of TDFEM together with other approaches, hp-adaptive technique, orthogonal basis functions and acceleration of FEM using Graphics Processor Units (GPU) in time domain, etc..EI061209-12162