A generalized differential quadrature element method

The generalized differential quadrature element method (GDQEM) has been pro posed. The element weighting coefficients are generated by a generic differ ential quadrature (GDQ) with which the element weighting coefficients for e lements having arbitrary configurations call be straightly generated. By us ing this GDQ technique the governing differential or partial differential e quations defined on all elements, the transition conditions on the inter-el ement boundary of two adjacent elements and the boundary conditions can be discretized. A global algebraic equation system can be obtained by assembli ng all of the discretized equations. This method can convert a generic engi neering or scientific problem having an arbitrary domain configuration into a computer algorithm without adopting the mapping technique. (C) 2000 Else vier Science S.A. All rights reserved.