Three-Dimensional Thermal Stress Analysis under Steady State with Heat Generation by Boundary Element Method

Abstract

The boundary element method (BEM) does not require a domain integral in steady-state thermoelastic problems without heat generation. However, with heat generation, the domain integral is necessary. This paper shows that the three-dimensional problem of steady-state thermoelasticity with nonuniform heat generation can be easily solved without a domain integral by means of the boundary element method. This method can also be applied to steady-state thermal stress problems under generally complicated heat generation. However, in this case, the domain must be divided into small areas, where distributions of heat generation satisfy the Laplace equation.