COMPLEX VARIABLE BOUNDARY-ELEMENT METHOD FOR TORSION OF COMPOSITE SHAFTS

The problem of torsion of composite shafts consisting of a cylindrical matrix surrounding a finite number of inclusions is solved by using t he complex variable boundary element method. The method consists in re ducing the problem to the solution of a singular integral equation in terms of an analytic function of a complex variable using the Cauchy i ntegral. The resulting integral equation is then solved numerically by discretizing the boundaries into segments called complex boundary ele ments and replacing the analytic function on the boundaries by interpo lating function. Numerical examples are given for a square shaft with a circular inclusion, and for an elliptic shaft with two elliptic incl usions. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.