A Brief History of Finite Element Method and Its Applications to Computational Electromagnetics

Abstract

The development of the finite element method is traced, from its deepest roots, reaching back to the birth of calculus of variations in the 17th century, to its earliest steps, in parallel with the advent of computers, up to its applications in electromagnetics and its flourishing as one of the most versatile numerical methods in the field. A survey on papers published on finite elements, and on ACES Journal in particular, is also included.