Finite element time domain simulation of electrostatic discharge using mixed-dimensional finite elements

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) from a charged human through a printed circuit board is simulated using zero, two, and three dimensional finite elements. The zero dimensional circuit elements represent the equivalent circuit of a human and is directly connected to a conventional finite element model representing a printed circuit board. An initial condition representing the charged voltage of a human is placed on the equivalent circuit and provides the only excitation for the finite element time domain simulation. Discharge current waveforms through the printed circuit board are in agreement with typical measured waveforms