Dual reciprocity BEM: local versus global approximation functions for diffusion, convection and other problems

Abstract

The use of the global approximation functions (elements of Pascal's triangle, sine expansions and others) in the dual reciprocity boundary element method is compared to the better known local radial basis functions for convection, diffusion and other problems in which the volume integrals considered contain first and second derivatives of the problem variables, time derivatives and sums and products of functions, including nonlinear terms. It will be shown that whilst it is possible to obtain accurate solutions to the problems considered using the global functions, a successful solution to a given problem depends very much on the function chosen, as well as other factors.