Dynamic analysis of 3-D structures by a transformed boundary element method

In this work, an advanced implementation of the direct boundary element method applicable to periodic (steadystate) and transient dynamic problems involving three-dimensional structures of arbitrary shape and connectivity is presented. Interior, exterior and halfspace type of problems can all be solved by the present method. The discussion first focuses on the formulation of the method, followed by material pertaining to the fundamental singular solutions and to the isoparametric boundary elements used for discretizing the surface of the problem. Subsequently, numerical integration techniques and the solution algorithm are introduced. This methodology has been incorporated in a versatile, general purpose computer program. Finally, the stability and high accuracy of this dynamic analysis technique are established through comparisons with available analytical and numerical results.