Diffraction loads on multiple vertical cylinders with rectangular cross section by Trefftz-type finite elements

This payer deals with the application of the so-called 'frameless' Trefftz- type finite elements to the calculation of the diffraction loads on multipl e vertical cylinders with rectangular cross sections. The method is based o n the use of a suitably truncated T-complete set of Trefftz functions over individual subdomains linked by means of a least-square procedure. The vert ex singularities and the Sommerfeld radiation condition are readily incorpo rated in the trial functions. The convergence properties are assessed by me ans of a boundary error norm. In order to show the performance of the appro ach, the examples of computations for the arrays of four square vertical cy linders are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.