Abstract
A mathematical model is developed to determine the steady-state electric current flow through in non-homogeneous isotropic conductor whose shape has a three-dimensional hollow body. The equations of the Maxwell's theory of electric current flow in a non-homogeneous isotropic solid conductor body are used to formulate the corresponding electric boundary value problem. The determination of the steady motion of charges is based on the concept of the electrical conductance. The derivation of the upper and lower bound formulae for the electrical conductance is based on Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. Two numerical examples illustrate the applications of the derived upper and lower bound formulae.
1 Introduction
Electrical resistance of an electrical conductor is a measure of the difficulty to pass a steady electric current through the conductor. The well-known elementary form of Ohm's law states that when the conductor carries a current I from a point P1 at potential U1 to a point P2 at potential U2 then U1–U2 = RI, where R is the resistance of the conductor between points P1 and P2, it depends only on the shape and temperature and the material of the conductor. The inverse of electric resistance is the electric conductance G = 1/R. This paper deals with the electric resistance of a three-dimensional non-homogeneous conductor body. Examination of non-homogeneous structural elements is a very important task. Maróti's study [1] deals with the bending vibration of axially non-homogeneous beams. The buckling problem of axially functionally graded beams is considered in paper [2]. For prescribed frequency and buckling loads Maróti and Elishakoff [2] determined the Young's modulus in axial direction as a function of axial coordinate. The non-homogeneous isotropic hollow conductor is bounded by two closed surfaces

Hollow non-homogeneous conductor body bounded by closed surfaces
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

Hollow non-homogeneous conductor body bounded by closed surfaces
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Hollow non-homogeneous conductor body bounded by closed surfaces
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
There are several approximation methods to get the solution of the boundary-value problem Eq. (5), most of which use the results of variational calculus for example as Ritz method, finite element method [8, 9]. Other methods are also known and they used, for example finite difference methods, method of weighted residuals, boundary element method [10]. It must be mentioned that, many numerical-analytical method are used R-functions to solve the boundary value problems of electrodynamics [11–13]. The efficiency of the R-Function Method (RFM) to solving the boundary value problems of electrostatics in very complicated domain is illustrated in paper by Kravchenko and Basarab [14]. They considered a boundary-value problem of electrodynamics in the fractal regions of the Sierpiski carpet and the Koch island types [14]. Iványi solved a number of two-dimensional boundary value problems of static and stationary electromagnetisms by variational method connecting of them with the use of R-functions [12, 13, 15, 16]. It is not the aim of this paper is to give a detailed list of different analytical and numerical methods, which are used widespread in electrical engineering calculations.
2 Upper bound for G and lower bound for R
If the function
The combination of the inequality relation (15) with Eq. (16) and using formula (9) gives (14). A brief discussion shows that the sign of equality in relation (14) is valid only if
3 Lower bound for G, upper bound for R
Let
In lower bound formula (18) equality is reached only if
The proof of lower bound formula (18) is based on the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality relation (19)
From inequality relation (22) the proof of lower bound formula, (18) can be obtained immediately.
Let
4 Numerical examples
In the numerical examples the spherical coordinate system is used. The connection between the Cartesian coordinates

Meridian section of hollow spherical domain
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

Meridian section of hollow spherical domain
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Meridian section of hollow spherical domain
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Figure 3 shows the upper and the lower bounds of the conductance G as a function of α for

Upper and lower bounds for the conductance of non-homogeneous spherical conductor as a function of α for
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

Upper and lower bounds for the conductance of non-homogeneous spherical conductor as a function of α for
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Upper and lower bounds for the conductance of non-homogeneous spherical conductor as a function of α for
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Figure 4 shows the plot of function

Comparison of exact solution, approximate solution and FE approximation
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

Comparison of exact solution, approximate solution and FE approximation
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Comparison of exact solution, approximate solution and FE approximation
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
The meridian section of axisymmetric hollow domain bounded by two spherical surfaces as it is shown in Fig. 5. The following data are used

The meridian section of axisymmetric hollow domain bounded by two spherical surfaces with different centre points
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

The meridian section of axisymmetric hollow domain bounded by two spherical surfaces with different centre points
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
The meridian section of axisymmetric hollow domain bounded by two spherical surfaces with different centre points
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Let
Figure 6 shows the upper and the lower bounds as a function of power index for

Upper and lower bounds for the conductance as a function of power index n
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621

Upper and lower bounds for the conductance as a function of power index n
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
Upper and lower bounds for the conductance as a function of power index n
Citation: Pollack Periodica 18, 1; 10.1556/606.2022.00621
5 Conclusions
A mathematical model is developed to determine the steady-state electric current flow through in non-homogeneous isotropic conductor whose shape is a three-dimensional hollow body. The hollow body considered is bounded by two closed surfaces which have no common points. The derivation of the upper and lower bound formulae for the electrical conductance is based on the two types of Cauchy-Schwarz inequality. Two numerical examples illustrate the applications of the derived upper and lower bounds for the conductance. The derived upper and lower bound formulae of electric conductance can be used to check the results of numerical computations obtained by finite element method, boundary element method and by any other numerical methods.
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