Uses simple engineering terms to describe which types of problems can best be solved with each method, combining the two and the applications for which this might be suitable. Features a chapter devoted to the construction of finite and boundary element meshes, error analysis and confidence criteria. Contains a slew of practical applications.

Over the past decades, the Boundary Element Method has emerged as a ver satile and powerful tool for the solution of engineering problems, presenting in many cases an alternative to the more widely used Finite Element Method. As with any numerical method, the engineer or scientist who applies it to a practical problem needs to be acquainted with, and understand, its basic principles to be able to apply it correctly and be aware of its limitations. It is with this intention that we have endeavoured to write this book: to give the student or practitioner an easy-to-understand introductory course to the method so as to enable him or her to apply it judiciously. As the title suggests, this book not only serves as an introductory course, but also cov ers some advanced topics that we consider important for the researcher who needs to be up-to-date with new developments. This book is the result of our teaching experiences with the Boundary Element Method, along with research and consulting activities carried out in the field. Its roots lie in a graduate course on the Boundary Element Method given by the authors at the university of Stuttgart. The experiences gained from teaching and the remarks and questions of the students have contributed to shaping the 'Introductory course' (Chapters 1-8) to the needs of the stu dents without assuming a background in numerical methods in general or the Boundary Element Method in particular.

Providing an easy introduction to the boundary element method, this book is ideal for any reader wishing to work in this field or use this method for the solution of engineering problems. From the beginning, the emphasis is on the implementation of the method into computer programs which can be used to solve real problems. The book covers two-andthree-dimensional linear and non-linear analysis in potential flow (heat flow and seepage) and static elasticity. Several computer programs are listed in the book and may be downloaded free of charge via the Internet. They include programs and subroutines for: * 2-D analysis of potential problems using the Trefftz method * 2-D and 3-D linear analysis of potential and static elasticity problems using isoparametric elements (single and multiple regions) * implementation of non-linear problems * coupling to finite elements The programs (written in FORTRAN 90) are well documented, and can be employed by the user to gain experience with the method through the solution of small test examples. Furthermore, readers may use them as a starting point for developing their own boundary element package. In addition, exercises are included in most chapters involving the use of the programs with answers given in an Appendix, and a number of interesting industrial applications in the areas of mechanical, civil and geotechnical engineering are presented.

Modern finite element analysis has grown into a basic mathematical tool for almost every field of engineering and the applied sciences. This introductory textbook fills a gap in the literature, offering a concise, integrated presentation of methods, applications, software tools, and hands-on projects. Included are numerous exercises, problems, and Mathematica/Matlab-based programming projects. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary applications to serve a broad audience of advanced undergraduate/graduate students with different backgrounds in applied mathematics, engineering, physics/geophysics. The work may also serve as a self-study reference for researchers and practitioners seeking a quick introduction to the subject for their research.

The Boundary Element Method for Engineers and Scientists: Theory and Applications is a detailed introduction to the principles and use of boundary element method (BEM), enabling this versatile and powerful computational tool to be employed for engineering analysis and design. In this book, Dr. Katsikadelis presents the underlying principles and explains how the BEM equations are formed and numerically solved using only the mathematics and mechanics to which readers will have been exposed during undergraduate studies. All concepts are illustrated with worked examples and problems, helping to put theory into practice and to familiarize the reader with BEM programming through the use of code and programs listed in the book and also available in electronic form on the book’s companion website. Offers an accessible guide to BEM principles and numerical implementation, with worked examples and detailed discussion of practical applications This second edition features three new chapters, including coverage of the dual reciprocity method (DRM) and analog equation method (AEM), with their application to complicated problems, including time dependent and non-linear problems, as well as problems described by fractional differential equations Companion website includes source code of all computer programs developed in the book for the solution of a broad range of real-life engineering problems