Edge-elements characterization of radiation and crosstalk on printed circuit boards

The edge-based finite-element method (edge elements) is used to obtain a numerical solution for the radiated emissions and crosstalk voltages on printed circuit boards (PCBs). Both shielded and open PCBs, over a wide frequency range, are analyzed and compared. The novelty of the approach presented in this paper lies in its use of the edge elements for open boundary problems. The method of analysis is two-dimensional, and has the expected advantages of edge elements; namely, it does not produce spurious solutions and it models sharp points and edges without any need for special singular trial functions. Furthermore, the matrix obtained is sparse and symmetric, and the solution can be obtained directly, with no need for matrix inversion.