An efficient numerical scheme for spreading resistance calculations based on the variational method

Abstract

This paper presents a simple and efficient numerical scheme for evaluating the correction factor integrals that arise in the variational method. The scheme is a modification of one recently proposed by Berkowitz and Lux for the uniform flux method. The abscissae and the weights required for the integration are given in a form which allows the numerical scheme to be readily implemented. Using this scheme, it takes, on an average, 0.8 sec to compute one value of correction factor on an Apple II Microcomputer. For a slab of varying thickness, backed by either a perfectly conducting or a high resistivity substrate, the correction factors obtained agree with those derived from the exact constant-potential method to within 1%. © 1983.