# boundary conditions for electrostatic problem

I'm solving an electrostatic problem governed by Laplace equation $$-\nabla \cdot (\rho^{-1} \nabla u) = 0$$ in the following domain: a brick ($\Omega_1$) with a cylindrical inclusion ($\Omega_2$), where $\rho$ - electric resistivity, $u$ - potential. There are two plane electrodes attached to opposite faces of the brick.

On top and bottom faces Dirichlet boundary conditions are defined: $$u|_{\partial\Omega_{top}} = u_1$$ $$u|_{\partial\Omega_{bottom}} = u_2$$ On other faces of the brick homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions are held. $$\rho^{-1}\frac{\partial u}{\partial n}|_{\partial\Omega_{side}} = 0$$

If the inclusion is strictly inside the brick, everything is good. Here is a 2D view of potential distribution with isolines.

I am interested in such a situation when inclusion goes through the brick. In this case it crosses top and bottom faces, and they become consisting of two subdomains.

If I impose the same boundary conditions as in previous case on both subdomains, I get the following potential distribution:

I think it's wrong. Therefore I would like to ask - what should I change to get right solution - boundary conditions on top/bottom faces, or something else?

Parameters: $\rho_{\Omega_1} = 10^6 (Ohm \cdot m)$, $\rho_{\Omega_2} = 10^{-3} (Ohm \cdot m)$, $u_1 = 1 (V)$, $u_2 = 0$

Edit

Why I think that the result I obtain in the second case is wrong. The task I'm solving is a task about conductive inclusion inside non-conductive (or low conductive) medium. I was taught that there is no electric field in conductive bodies, and therefore electrostatic potential is constant there. That can be seen from the result of the first simulation when inclusion is fully inside a brick. And I expect the same behaviour of electric field in the second case. But that doesn't happen. Potential equally changes in conductive and non-conductive media, and electric field is the same in the whole domain. Therefore I think something is wrong there. I would be happy if somebody could say that the model I use is correct, but I'm wrong only in interpretation of my results.

Edit 2

My thanks to all of those who took part in discussion of my problem. But the main part of the answers was about explaining that the solution of the problem in the second case (when inclusion goes through the brick) is the right solution of the boundary value problem I provided. I agree with all these answers. And as @StefanoM said "The second problem is trivial and does not need a FEM code to be solved". I agree 100% with that. But as @StefanoM wisely noticed "one should never forget that phenomenological equations are based on a number of simplifying assumptions and cannot be applied if those assumptions are not true". Therefore the main question that worries me is - what is the right model for the problem I'm trying to solve? Perhaps I need another equation, or another boundary conditions somewhere. Could anyone suggest the model that would correctly describe the electrostatic problem when the computational domain consists of two subdomains with contrasting electrical resistivity, especially in the case when condutive inclusion goes through non-conductive media. I started from cylindrical inclusion because it's the simplest case. In fact I will need to work with more complicated domains (inclusions), therefore I do need to use FEM code.

• What is the "right solution?" In the case where there's no vertical change in the resistance, this is what one would expect from the potential. Sep 9 '13 at 14:04
• silly question: are you sure you're looking to an inner slice and not the outer boundary $\partial\Omega_1$ ? (which would give these parallel isolines for both scenarios)
Sep 9 '13 at 16:31
• @SAAD :) yes, I'm sure it's an inner slice. I build a 2D view in a code, not in visualization program; and the code stays the same, I change only input mesh. Sep 9 '13 at 23:48
• @PeterBrune, it's a very good question indeed. I answered editing my question. Sep 10 '13 at 1:37
• About edit 2: I would be very happy to help you, but at the present stage it is unclear to me what type of problem you are trying to solve. May be you should formulate a new question, clearly stating the physical problem, its context, and the quantities you are looking for. May be the description of an experimental setup could be of help. This said I fear that such a question would be off topic on SciComp SE. Sep 12 '13 at 21:08

• @GodricSeer, so why there was no electric field in the first case (inclusion inside brick)? If I set electrical resistivity of inclusion to $10^{-16} (Ohm \cdot m)$ which corresponds to a perfect conductor (I believe), changes in potential distribution won't be visible. Sep 10 '13 at 3:18