The Effect of Non-Convex Boundaries on Time Domain Boundary Element Solutions

Abstract

There exist mainly two types of numerical analysis techniques: the ‘domain’ type methods (e.g. the finite difference method and the finite element method) and the ‘boundary’ type methods (e.g. the Trefftz method and the boundary element method). When treating problems in unbounded domains, the boundary element method seems to be the most appropriate technique because it correctly accounts for the radiation to infinity, and it also has the advantage that the number of space dimensions as well as the modeling effort is considerably smaller than in domain-type methods. Moreover, the dynamic behavior of a structure resting on the soil mass is influenced to an important extent by the geometry of its foundation (shallow or deep foundation) and by the type of the soil model. Using the BEM, it is a very easy matter to consider various types of geometries.