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Three-dimensional forward modeling for magnetotelluric sounding by finite element method

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Abstract

A finite element algorithm combined with divergence condition was presented for computing three-dimensional(3D) magnetotelluric forward modeling. The finite element equation of three-dimensional magnetotelluric forward modeling was derived from Maxwell’s equations using general variation principle. The divergence condition was added forcedly to the electric field boundary value problem, which made the solution correct. The system of equation of the finite element algorithm was a large sparse, banded, symmetric, ill-conditioned, non-Hermitian complex matrix equation, which can be solved using the Bi-CGSTAB method. In order to prove correctness of the three-dimensional magnetotelluric forward algorithm, the computed results and analytic results of one-dimensional geo-electrical model were compared. In addition, the three-dimensional magnetotelluric forward algorithm is given a further evaluation by computing COMMEMI model. The forward modeling results show that the algorithm is very efficient, and it has a lot of advantages, such as the high precision, the canonical process of solving problem, meeting the internal boundary condition automatically and adapting to all kinds of distribution of multi-substances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Info-physics and Geomatics Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Xiao-zhong Tong  (童孝忠), Jian-xin Liu  (柳建新), Wei Xie  (谢维), Lin-hua Xu  (徐凌华), Rong-wen Guo  (郭荣文) & Yun-tao Cheng  (程云涛)

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  1. Xiao-zhong Tong  (童孝忠)
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  2. Jian-xin Liu  (柳建新)
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  3. Wei Xie  (谢维)
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  4. Lin-hua Xu  (徐凌华)
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  5. Rong-wen Guo  (郭荣文)
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  6. Yun-tao Cheng  (程云涛)
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Correspondence to Xiao-zhong Tong  (童孝忠).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(60672042) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

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Tong, Xz., Liu, Jx., Xie, W. et al. Three-dimensional forward modeling for magnetotelluric sounding by finite element method. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 16, 136–142 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-009-0023-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-009-0023-5

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