Finite element error estimates and adaptive grid refinement

A procedure for estimating errors in a finite element solution is used to guide local refinement of the grid. Coupled with an unstructured grid generator, this method is used in an iterative process to resolve the solution to an electric field problem in a more efficient manner than the global grid refinement used in the past. The analysis and refinement are automated to reduce the error in the gradients to some predetermined level of accuracy allowing the solution to be used with more confidence.