The use of a piecewise continuous polynomial basis function for the surface reduction of integral equations in thermoelastic analysis

The analysis of thermoelastic problems using the boundary element method in multi-dimensional solids is described. The integral equations are formulat ed by reducing the domain integral associated with the thermal body force t o equivalent boundary integrals using piecewise polynomial basis functions and corresponding particular solutions of the governing inhomogeneous diffe rential equation. Additionally, the use of functions associated with a spec ific temperature field applied at relevant geometric locations is also desc ribed. The accuracy of the temperature field representation is estimated by using a statistical parameter. An error estimate of the boundary element f ormulation due to an inaccurate representation of the temperature field is also derived. Issues regarding numerical performance and nature of solution algorithm are discussed in the framework of progressively more complex app lication problems. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.