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Main >> Applications >> Sample problems

Thin film resistance - QuickField simulation example

Electric current is passing through the steel thin film with two electrodes attached.

Engineering question

How to calculate the resistance of a thin steel film and verify against the analytical spreading-resistance formula?

Answer
Calculate current in a plane-parallel DC-conduction model, obtain resistance from voltage divided by current, and compare it with the analytical result.

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Typical applications
thin conductive films, resistive heater films, sheet conductors

Thin film resistance

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Simulation problem

Problem Type
Plane-parallel problem of DC conduction.

Geometry
h = 6 mm, g = 20 mm, d = 1 mm - thickness of the film
Thin film electrical resistance Electric current is passing through the steel thin film with two electrodes attached Steel +0.01 V -0.01 V h g h

Given
Electrical conductivity of the steel σ = 10 MS/m,
Voltage drop ΔU = 0.02 V.

Task
Calculate the resistance of the steel film and compare with the analytical result.

Solution
Current through the surface I is calculated in QuickField and then the resistance may be found using the Ohm's law:
R = ΔU / I

Analytical solution*:
R = (g/h + 0.469) / (σ·d).

Result
QuickField: R = 0.02/52.6 = 3.80·10-4 Ohm.
Analytical solution: R = (0.020/0.006+0.469) / (10'000'000 · 0.001) = 3.80·10-4 Ohm.
Thin film resistance

Reference: * Roland Schinzinger, Patricio A. A. Laura Conformal Mapping: Methods and Applications, 1991, Elsevier Science Publishers, B.V., p. 224. ISBN 0-486-43236-X (pbk).

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