Triangular prisms for edge-based vector finite element analysis

The paper deals with the derivation ad validation of edge-based shape functions for the distorted triangular prism. The distorted triangular prism allows for meshes which are unstructured in two dimensions and structured in the third dimension. This leads to substantial simplification in the meshing algorithm and many printed antenna and microwave circuit geometries can be easily tessellated using such a mesh. The new edge-based shape functions presented are validated by computing the eigenvalues of three different cavities (rectangular, cylindrical and pie-shell).