This work develops a general finite-element (FE) model for synchronous machines. A two-dimensional, nonlinear, time-stepped finite-element simulation of a line-to-line short circuit is performed on a large salient-pole synchronous generator with multiple rotor circuits under no-load conditions. The measurements for model assessment are recorded on a 40-pole, 13.75-MVA hydrogenerator at Hydro-Quebec Rapides-des-Quinze generating station. The obtained results attest to the effectiveness of FE numerical model in performance prediction of large hydrogenerators including the saturation phenomenon.