Efficient hybrid scheme of finite element method of lines for modelling computational electromagnetic problems

A hybrid scheme called finite element method of lines is proposed and described for modelling and analysis of generalized computational electromagnetic problems with emphasis on a number of irregular waveguide examples. This new technique is developed by combining a finite element method with a method of lines so that it can handle not only irregular composite geometry but also maintain high accuracy enjoyed by semianalytical procedures. Analytical and numerical algorithmic building blocks of this new scheme are discussed in detail such as geometry discretization, element mapping, element trial functions, reformulation and computational issues of non-linear ordinary differential equations. Our results show that this new technique is able to efficiently solve complex problems as compared with the conventional method of lines. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.