COMPUTATION OF 3-D CURRENT DRIVEN SKIN EFFECT PROBLEMS USING A CURRENT VECTOR POTENTIAL

A finite element formulation of current driven eddy current problems in terms of a current vector potential and a magnetic scalar potential is developed. Since the traditional T-OMEGA method enforces zero net current in conductors, an impressed current vector potential T0 is introduced in both conducting and nonconducting regions, describing an arbitrary current distribution with the prescribed net current in each conductor. The function T0 is represented by means of edge elements while nodal elements are used to approximate the current vector potential and the magnetic scalar potential. The tangential component of T is set to zero on the conductor/nonconductor interfaces. The method is validated by computing the solution to an axisymmetric problem. Some problems involving a coil with several turns wound around an iron core are solved.