The method of fundamental solutions for heat conduction in layered materials

In this paper, we investigate the application of the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS) to two-dimensional problems of steady-state heat conduction in isotropic and anisotropic bimaterials. Two approaches are used: a domai n decomposition technique and a single-domain approach in which-modified fu ndamental solutions are employed. The modified fundamental solutions satisf y the interface continuity conditions automatically for planar interfaces. The two approaches are tested and compared on several test problems and the ir relative merits and disadvantages; discussed. Finally, we use the domain decomposition approach to investigate bimaterial problems where the interf ace is non-planar and the modified fundamental solutions cannot be used. Co pyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.