Resumen de Comparison of hp‐adaptive methods in finite element electromagnetic wave propagation
Purpose – This paper aims to show that simple geometry‐based hp‐algorithms using an explicit a posteriori error estimator are efficient in wave propagation computation of complex structures containing geometric singularities.
Design/methodology/approach – Four different hp‐algorithms are compared with common h‐ and p‐adaptation in electrostatic and time‐harmonic problems regarding efficiency in number of degrees of freedom and runtime. An explicit a posteriori error estimator in energy norm is used for adaptive algorithms.
Findings – Residual‐based error estimation is sufficient to control the adaptation process. A geometry‐based hp‐algorithm produces the smallest number of degrees of freedom and results in shortest runtime. Predicted error algorithms may choose inappropriate kind of refinement method depending on p‐enrichment threshold value. Achieving exponential error convergence is sensitive to the element‐wise decision on h‐refinement or p‐enrichment.
Research limitations/implications – Initial mesh size must be sufficiently small to confine influence of phase lag error.
Practical implications – Information on implementation of hp‐algorithm and use of explicit error estimator in electromagnetic wave propagation is provided.
Originality/value – The paper is a resource for developing efficient finite element software for high‐frequency electromagnetic field computation providing guaranteed error bound.
