A characteristics-based finite element method for transmission line problem

This paper presents a numerical model of transmission line equations based on a combination of the finite element method and the generalized method of characteristics. A local system of the transmission line finite element is obtained using the generalized method of characteristics applied to the Telegrapher's equations. In this way, a spatial functional approximation using local shape functions together with the generalized trapezoidal rule used for time integration as it is done in the classical finite element formulation is avoided and higher accuracy of results is obtained. In order to show the essential principles of the proposed numerical method, for sake of simplicity, the scope of the paper is restricted to a single transmission line problem at the low frequency regime.