Presents Boundary Element Method (BEM) in a simple fashion in order to help the beginner to understand the very basic principles of the method. This book initially derives BEM for the simplest potential problems, and subsequently builds on these to formulate BEM for a wide range of applications in electromagnetics.

The interest in finite element method as a solution technique of the computer age is reflected in the availability of many general and special purpose software based on this technique. This work aims to provide a complete and detailed explanation of the basics of the application areas.

The volume is divided into several parts, describing solid mechanics applications, dynamics and vibrations, fluid flow, acoustics, thermal problems, electrostatics, electromagnetics and numerical aspects. The book presents the state of the art of boundary element research with special emphasis on new applications and original research. As such it helps to point out the way ahead for boundary elements and the type of problems that are currently being investigated.

Since its origin in 1978, the International Conference on Boundary Element Methods has provided the recognized and established forum for innovations in boundary element research. Practically all new ideas on boundary ele ments have been presented at these conferences and the resulting papers can be found in the published books. The conference brings together the most renowned scientists and engineers working on boundary element research throughout the world. A unique feature of these meetings is that the participation of younger researchers is actively encouraged by the organizers in an effort to .bring forward to the attention of the international community an ever expanding range of new ideas. This book contains the edited version of the papers presented at the XIIIth BEM Conference held in Tulsa, Oklahoma in August of 1991. The meeting attracted a large number of participants and many excellent contributions which have been divided into nineteen different sections, i.e. Potential Prob lems; Diffusion and Convection Problems; Fluid Mechanics; Fluid Flow; Wave Propagation; Groundwater Flow; Heat Transfer; Electrical Problems; Geomechanics; Plates and Shells; Inelastic Problems; Damage Tolerance; Contact Mechanics; Industrial Applications; Design Sensitivity and Opti mization; Inverse Problems; Special Techniques; Numerical Aspects and Computational Aspects.

VI SOCRATES: I think that we ought to stress that we will write only about things that we have first hand experience in, in a coherent way that will be useful to engineers and other scientists and stressing the formulation without being too mathematical. We should write with integrity and honesty, giving reference to other authors where reference is due, but avoiding mentioning everybody just to be certain that our book is widely advertised. Above all, the book should be clear and useful. PLATO: I think we should include a good discussion of fundamental ideas, of how integral equations are formed, pointing out that they are like two dimensional shadows of three dimensional objects, ... SOCRATES: Stop there! Remember you are not 'the' Plato! PLATO: Sorry, I was carried away. ARISTOTLE: I think that the book should have many applications so that the reader can learn by looking at them how to use the method. SOCRATES: I agree. But we should be careful. It is easy to include many illustra tions and examples in a book in order to disguise its meagre contents. All examples should be relevant. ARISTOTLE: And we should also include a full computer program to give the reader if so he wishes, a working experience of the technique.

Formed of presented papers this volume contains research from the 40th International Conference on Boundary Elements and other Mesh Reduction Methods, recognised as THE international forum for the latest advances in these techniques and their applications in science and engineering. The ongoing success of this series is a result of the strength of research being carried out all over the world and the coverage has continually evolved in line with the latest developments in the field. The books originating from this conference series constitute a record of the development of BEM/MRM, running from the initial successful development of boundary integral techniques into the boundary element method, a technique that eliminates the need for an internal mesh, to the recent and most sophisticated Mesh Reduction and even Meshless Methods. Since these methods are used in many engineering and scientific fields the 2017 book, Boundary Elements and other Mesh Reduction Methods XXXX, like the series before, will be of great interest to those working within the areas of numerical analysis, boundary elements and meshless methods. The research papers included in this volume cover: Advanced formulations; Advanced meshless and mesh reduction methods; Structural mechanics applications; Solid mechanics; Heat and mass transfer; Electrical engineering and electromagnetics; Computational methods; Fluid flow modelling; Damage mechanics and fracture; Dynamics and vibrations; Engineering applications; Interfacing with other methods; Coupling with design and manufacturing; Solution of large systems of equations.