Three-dimensional magnetic field analysis method using scalar potential formulated by boundary element method

A computational method for magnetic fields formulated by a BEM (boundary element method) has been developed. In the method, a reduced scalar potential is selected as an unknown variable to simplify the calculation of the boundary conditions. Its use requires a high numerical accuracy of the potential gradient. Conventional BEM does not provide this, because numerical element integration for the singular kernal causes a large error. To overcome this difficulty, a highly accurate numerical integration scheme is proposed based on the BEM, and it is applied to magnetic field problems. Calculation results for a spherical permeable material in a problem proposed by the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (the problem of a magnetic field generated by a coil) agreed with the exact solution and the experimental data within 5%.<>