Use of reduced 3D hexahedral edge elements for 2D TE waveguides and vector potential problems

We present in this paper the use of the 3D hexahedral edge element for two 2D applications. The procedure consists of first computing the 3D hexahedral edge elemental matrix. Then the "reduction" for 2D domains is applied in the assembling process, resulting in a simple way to compute 2D problems using edge elements without the need to define special 2D finite elements. The method maintains all the properties of a 2D method with the exception of the elemental matrix calculation.<>