A Numerical Simulation of 2‐D Geoelectric Section with Biquadratic Change of Potential for Resistivity Sounding by the Finite Element Method

Abstract

AbstractNow on performance of using finite element method in the numerical calculation of resistivity surveying, people always become accustomed to take discussions as view from the total potential. The electrical properties, such as conductivity and potential, are generally assumed to be the mean value or the linear variation. With respect to the problem, a new finite element numerical simulation method for resistivity sounding of 2‐D geoelectric section is presented in the paper, whose research object is anomalous potential. The major difference between this method and the traditional methods in the same category lies in interpolating conductivity with a bilinear function, and interpolating potential with a biquadratic function within each grid cell. In this sense, this method can make the forward of potential and the apparent resistivity derived from the potential more agree with the variation rule of actual geoelectric field than ever. Additionally, the number of mesh cell is also cut down by a long way. The following examples illustrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the method.