Boundary Element Methods for Engineers:

Part I: Potential Problems

Boundary Element Analysis of Potential Problems

where is the angle shown in Figure 2.5. Now

cos =

( + )

(2.65)

where and are the components of the radius vector, r, joining P and Q.
2.5.1 Points P and Q not in the same element
In general, the required integrations cannot be performed analytically, but may be carried out numerically
using a method known as Gaussian quadrature, which is described in Appendix A. Provided point P is
not in the element over which integration is required the process is straightforward.
2.5.2 Points P and Q in the same element
The case where P is in the relevant element requires some care, because when P and Q are coincident
both of the kernel functions are singular. The orders of the singularities are 1 and ln( 1 ), respectively.
Provided that P is not the c th node of the element, however, the shape function () goes to zero at

P, and the products of kernels and shape functions (in Equation 2.63) are not singular at P, and may
be integrated normally.
If P is the c th node of the element then, provided that the boundary at this point is smooth, and are
orthogonal and the first kernel is zero. The diagonal coefficient of [ ]is given by Equation 2.45. If the

boundary is not smooth at P, however, then the first kernel is not zero and is difficult to evaluate directly.
The diagonal coefficient of [ ], which includes the free term, is always obtainable from a summation
condition equivalent to Equation 2.47.
2

= ( 2.66)
=1

In other words, the sum of the coefficients in any row of [ ]should again be zero.
Still considering P to be the c th node of the element in Equation 2.63, the second kernel requires special
treatment to deal with the ln( 1 ) singularity, using a modified form of Gaussian quadrature. The radial
distance from P to a point at (, )can be arranged in the form
(, ) = () (2.67)

where () is a known function and is a modified intrinsic co-ordinate with its origin at P. The form of

() depends on which of the three element nodes P is located at. Co-ordinate is chosen in each case

to conform to the requirements of Gaussian quadrature involving a logarithmic function (Appendix A).

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