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A fundamental extension for a recently introduced numerical scheme for the time-domain solution of Maxwell’s equations on tetrahedral meshes is introduced: the algorithm is here shown to be able to handle materials with finite electric resistivity, without losing any of its amenable properties. A theoretic stability analysis, valid for the extended algorithm, is presented for the first time, and a Courant–Friedrich–Lewy sufficient condition on the maximum time step allowed for the scheme to be stable is derived analytically. This result is completely novel for finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-like approaches on tetrahedral grids. Finally, the accuracy of the extended algorithm is tested with respect to the well-known implicit finite-element method scheme on tetrahedral grids, to the canonical FDTD scheme on Cartesian orthogonal grids, and to a commercial code implementing FDTD with staircasing mitigation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numerical modeling of nanoscale electron devices needs the development of accurate and efficient numerical methods, in particular, for the numerical solution of the Schrödinger problem. If FEMs allow an accurate geometric representation of the device, they lead to a discrete counterpart of Schrödinger problem in terms of a computationally heavy generalized eigenvalue problem. Exploiting the geometric structure behind the Schrödinger problem, we will construct a numerically efficient discrete counterpart of it, yielding to a standard eigenvalue problem. We will also show how the two approaches are only partially akin to each other even when lumping is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel discrete model for cell membranes and electrodes contact impedances alternative to the widely used finite elements. The finite element approach can be considered as a tool for constructing finite dimensional systems of equations that approximate the specific electroquasistatic biological problem on the discrete level. Although the finite element technique is explained typically in terms of variational or weighted-residual approaches, another, less familiar way is available to reformulate geometrically the same physical problem. This approach, referred to as discrete geometric approach, allows a direct link between geometry and the degrees of freedom describing the specific biological problem. It is straightforward to implement in any finite element open software and it assures a correct modeling of voltages and currents playing a fundamental role in a biological problem. The validation has been performed, as a first step, against analytical solutions; then, we considered impedance measurements regarding erythrocytes in whole blood flowing in microchannels at high shear rates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The time independent Schrödinger equation stems from quantum theory axioms as a partial differential equation. This work aims at providing a novel discrete geometric formulation of this equation in terms of integral variables associated with precise geometric elements of a pair of three-dimensional interlocked grids, one of them based on tetrahedra. We will deduce, in a purely geometric way, a computationally efficient discrete counterpart of the time independent Schrödinger equation in terms of a standard symmetric eigenvalue problem. Moreover boundary and interface conditions together with non homogeneity and anisotropy of the media involved are accounted for in a straightforward manner. This approach yields to a sensible computational advantage with respect to the finite element method, where a generalized eigenvalue problem has to be solved instead. Such a modeling tool can be used for analyzing a number of quantum phenomena in modern nano-structured devices, where the accounting of the real 3D geometry is a crucial issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perturbation method for the T - Ω geometric formulation to solve eddy-current problems is introduced. The proposed formulation is applied to the feasibility design of a nondestructive evaluation device suitable to detect "long" longitudinal flaws in hot steel bars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a first step, we will investigate the extent of the consistency error for a hexahedral primal grid due to the use mass matrices of finite elements within the discrete geometric approach (DGA) as discrete counterparts of the constitutive relations. Such matrices are constructed by resorting to mixed elements edge and face vector functions. Then, we will propose a novel set of geometric vector basis functions for hexahedra that guarantee consistency and stability of the constitutive matrices for the DGA constructed according to the so-called energetic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present a 3-D time-domain eddy-current A formulation based on the discrete geometric approach (DGA) over unstructured and nonorthogonal hexahedral dual grids. The resulting differential algebraic system of equation, solved by means of a singly-diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta (SDIRK) variable step-size solver, leads to very accurate results at reduced computational costs, as shown by numerical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric reinterpretation of the Finite Element Method (FEM) shows that Raviart–Thomas and Nédélec mass matrices map from degrees of freedoms (DoFs) attached to geometric elements of a tetrahedral grid to DoFs attached to the barycentric dual grid. The algebraic inverses of the mass matrices map DoFs attached to the barycentric dual grid back to DoFs attached to the corresponding primal tetrahedral grid, but they are of limited practical use since they are dense. In this paper we present a new geometric construction of sparse inverse mass matrices for arbitrary tetrahedral grids and possibly inhomogeneous and anisotropic materials, debunking the conventional wisdom that the barycentric dual grid prohibits a sparse representation for inverse mass matrices. In particular, we provide a unified framework for the construction of both edge and face mass matrices and their sparse inverses. Such a unifying principle relies on novel geometric reconstruction formulas, from which, according to a well-established design strategy, local mass matrices are constructed as the sum of a consistent and a stabilization part. A major difference with the approaches proposed so far is that the consistent part is defined geometrically and explicitly, that is, without the necessity of computing the inverses of local matrices. This provides a sensible speedup and an easier implementation. We use these new sparse inverse mass matrices to discretize a three-dimensional Poisson problem, providing the comparison between the results obtained by various formulations on a benchmark problem with analytical solution. • First construction of sparse inverses of edge and face Finite Elements mass matrices for arbitrary tetrahedral grids. • We provide a unified framework for the design of both edges and face mass matrices and their sparse inverses. • Our construction handles inhomogeneous and anisotropic materials. • The entries of the sparse inverse mass matrices are geometrically defined with closed form expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]