Precision of meshfree methods and application to forward modeling of two-dimensional electromagnetic sources

Meshfree method offers high accuracy and computational capability and constructs the shape function without relying on predefined elements. We comparatively analyze the global weak form meshfree methods, such as element-free Galerkin method (EFGM), the point interpolation method (PIM), and the radial point interpolation method (RPIM). Taking two dimensional Poisson equation as an example, we discuss the support-domain dimensionless size, the field nodes, and background element settings with respect to their effect on calculation accuracy of the meshfree method. RPIM and EFGM are applied to controlled-source two-dimensional electromagnetic modeling with fixed shape parameters. The accuracy of boundary conditions imposed directly and by a penalty function are discussed in the case of forward modeling of two-dimensional magnetotellurics in a homogeneous medium model. The coupling algorithm of EFG-PIM and EFG-RPIM are generated by integrating the PIM or RPIM and EFGM. The results of the numerical modeling suggest the following. First, the proposed meshfree method and corresponding coupled methods are well-suited for electromagnetic numerical modeling. The accuracy of the algorithm is the highest when the support-domain dimensionless size is 1.0 and the distribution of field nodes is consistent with the nodes of background elements. Second, the accuracy of PIM and RPIM are lower than that of EFGM for the Poisson equation but higher than EFGM for the homogeneous medium MT response. Third, RPIM overcomes the matrix inversion problem of PIM and has a wider selection of support-domain dimensionless sizes as compared to RPIM.