Comparison of Computational Electromagnetics for Electrostatic Analysis

Methods

When the complexities of theoretical formulas make analytic solution intractable, we resort to non analytic methods, which include (1) graphical methods, (2) experimental methods, (3) analog methods, and (4) numerical methods. Graphical, experimental, and analog methods are applicable to solving relatively few problems. Numerical methods have come into prominence and become more attractive with the advent of fast digital computers. The most commonly used simple numerical techniques in EM are (1) moment method, (2) finite difference method, (3) finite element method and (4) charge simulation method. Most EM problems involve either partial differential equations or integral equations. Partial differential equations are usually solved using the finite difference method or the finite element method; integral equations are solved conveniently using the moment method. Although numerical methods give approximate solutions, the solutions are sufficiently accurate for engineering purposes. We should not get the impression that analytic techniques are outdated because of numerical methods; rather they are complementary. Every numerical method involves an analytic simplification to the point where it is easy to apply the method.