ISSN:
0748-8025
Keywords:
Engineering
;
Engineering General
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Mathematics
,
Technology
Notes:
A quantative comparison between the boundary integral equation (BIE) method and the finite difference (FD) method is presented in which each technique is applied to an elliptic boundary-value problem (BVP) containing a boundary singularity. Two types of singularity have previously been analysed theoretically, namely those due to a discontinuous boundary potential, which we shall refer to as S1, and those due to a sudden change from the specification of boundary potential flux, an S2 singularity. In this paper the analysis is presented for a third type of boundary singularity, namely an S3 singularity: that arising from a discontinuous boundary flux. Such a condition is frequently encountered in the field of heat transfer where, for example, a system or pipe has a change of lagging material.In general, it is found that the BIE method is superior, with regards to the computational time required to achieve a certain degree of accuracy, over standard FD methods even when there is a boundary singularity. Further, the BIE method determines the solution near the singularity much more accurately than the FD method. The FD method does, however, have advantages for a very restrictive class of problems; for example, when the boundary conditions are of the Dirichlet type and the boundary geometry is rectangular. In this case an optimum relaxation parameter can easily be obtained. A soon as Neumann conditions are prescribed, the BIE is far more efficient than the FD, whatever the boundary geometry.It is concluded that, for fast, accurate solutions of general Laplacian boundary-value problems, the BIE is appreciably superior to the FD and this is even more pronounced when there is a boundary singularity.
Additional Material:
3 Tab.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cnm.1630020210
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