Boundary Element

Method (BEM)

Zoran Ilievski

Wednesday 28th June, 2006

HG 6.96 (TU/e)
 Talk Overview

• The idea of BEM and its advantages

• The 2D potential problem

• Numerical implementation

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Idea of BEM

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Idea of BEM

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 Advantages of BEM
1) Reduction of problem dimension by 1

• Less data preparation time.

• Easier to change the applied mesh.
• Useful for problems that require
re-meshing.

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 Advantages of BEM
2) High Accuracy
• Stresses are accurate as there are
no approximations imposed on the
solution in interior domain points.
• Suitable for modeling problems of
rapidly changing stresses.

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 Advantages of BEM
3) Less computer time and storage

• For the same level of accuracy as

other methods BEM uses less
number of nodes and elements.

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 Advantages of BEM
4) Filter out unwanted information.
• Internal points of the domain are
optional.

• Focus on particular
internal region.

• Further reduces computer time.

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 Advantages of BEM
1. Reduction of problem dimension by 1.
2. High Accuracy.
3. Less computer time and storage.
4. Filter out unwanted information and so
focus on section of the domain you are
interested in.

BEM is an attractive option.

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 The 2D potential problem
• Where can BEM be applied?
• Two important functions.
• Description of the domain.
• Mapping of higher to lower dimensions.
• Satisfaction of the Laplace equations
and how to deal with a singularity.
• The boundary integral equation (BIE)
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 The 2D potential problem
Where can BEM be applied?

Where any potential problem is

governed by a differential equation
that satisfies the Laplace equation.
(or any other behavior that has a related
fundamental solution)

e.g. The following can be analyzed with the

Laplace equation: fluid flow, torsion of bars,
diffusion and steady state heat
conduction.
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 The 2D potential problem
The Laplace equation for
2D
∂ 2
φ ∂ 2
φ
∇ φ = 2 + 2 =0
2

∂x ∂y

∇ 2 = ∇.∇ = Laplacian operator

φ = Potential function
x, y = Cartesian coordinate
axis 12
 The 2D potential problem
Two important functions.

φ= The function describing the

property under analysis.
e.g. heat. (Unknown)

∇ 2 λ = ∂ (Q − P ) The fundamental solution

of the Laplace equation.
(These are well known)
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 The 2D potential problem
Description of the domain
Fundamental solution of the 2D
Laplace equation for a
concentrated source point at p is

1  1 
λ ( p, Q ) = ln 
2π  r ( p, Q) 
1  1 
λ ( p, Q ) = ln
2π  r ( p, Q) 

Where

r ( p, Q ) = (( X p − xQ ) + (Y p − yQ )
2 2
)
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 The 2D potential problem
Mapping of higher to lower dimensions
• Boundary of any domain is of a dimension 1 less than of the
domain.
• In BEM the problem is moved from within the domain to its
boundary.
• This means you must, in this case, map Area to Line.
 ∂λ ∂φ 
∫(
φ∇known )
λ − λ∇‘Greens ∫Γ  ∂n
φ dA =Second
 φ Identity’
−λ isdΓused to do this.
2 2
• The well
A ∂n 
φ, λ have continuous 1st and 2nd
φ derivatives.
unknown potential at any point.
λ known fundamental solution at any point.
∂
n unit outward
∂n
derivative in the direction of
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normal. normal.
 The 2D potential problem
Satisfying the Laplace equation
The φ will ∇ 2φ = 0 everywhere in the solution
unknown satisfy domain.
The known fundamental λ satisfie ∇ 2
λ = 0 everywhe
solution s re
except the point p where it is singular.

1  1 
λ ( p, Q ) = ln 
2π  r ( p, Q ) 

r ( p, Q ) = (( X p − xQ ) + (Y p − yQ )
2 2
)
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 The 2D potential problem
How to deal with the singularity
• Surround p with a small circle of radius
ε , then
examine solution as ε 0
• New area is (A – Aε )
• New boundary is (Γ + Γε )

 ∂λ ∂φ 
∫ ( 2 2
)
φ∇ λ − λ∇ φ dA = ∫  φ −λ dΓ
A− Aε Γ + Γε
 ∂n ∂n 
∇ 2φ = 0 & ∇ λ = 0
2
Within area (A –
Aε)
The left hand side of the equation is now 0 and the right is
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now …
 The 2D potential problem
How to deal with the singularity
 ∂λ ∂φ   ∂λ ∂φ 
0 = ∫ φ −λ dΓ + ∫Γε  ∂n ∂n dΓ
φ − λ
Γ
 ∂n ∂n 

The second term must be evaluated and to do dΓ = εdα

this let
∂λ ∂λ ∂r 1
And use the fact = . =
that ∂n ∂r ∂n 2πr

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 The 2D potential problem
How to deal with the singularity
 ∂λ ∂φ  1 2π   1   1  ∂φ 
∫Γε  ∂n ∂n  2π ∫0   ε   ε  ∂n ε dα
φ − λ dΓ = φ − ln

1
= (2π φ) = 1.φ
2π

 1 Evaluated with p in the


C (P ) = 1 / 2 on domain,
the boundary (Smooth
 0 surface),
 and outside the boundary.

θ
C ( P) = For coarse
2π
surfaces
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 The 2D potential problem
The boundary integral equation
∂φ
C ( P )φ ( P ) = ∫ K 2 ( P, Q) dΓ(Q ) − ∫ K1 ( P, Q )φ (Q ) dΓ(Q )
Γ ∂n Γ

Where K1 and K2 are the known fundamental solutions and are

equal to
∂λ ( P, Q)
K1 ( P , Q ) =
∂n
K 2 ( P , Q ) = λ ( P, Q )

θ
C ( P) =
2π
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 The 2D potential problem
• BEM can be applied where any potential problem is governed by
a differential equation that satisfies the Laplace equation.
In this case the 2D form.

• A potential problem can be mapped from higher to lower

dimension using Green’s second identity.

• Shown how to deal with the case of the singularity point.

• Derived the boundary integral equation (BIE)

∂φ
C ( P)φ ( P) = ∫ K 2 ( P, Q) dΓ(Q) − ∫ K1 ( P, Q)φ (Q) dΓ(Q)
Γ ∂n Γ
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 Numerical Implementation
• Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed case.
• Discretisation
• Reduction to a form Ax=B

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 Numerical Implementation
Dirichlet, Neumann and mixed case.
∂φ
C ( P )φ ( P ) = ∫ K 2 ( P, Q) dΓ(Q) − ∫ K1 ( P, Q)φ (Q) dΓ(Q)
Γ ∂n Γ

∂φ
The unknowns of the above are values on the boundary and φ,
are ∂n
Dirichlet Problem
φ is given every point Q on the boundary.
Neumann Problem
∂φ
is given every point Q on the boundary.
∂n
Mixed case – Either are given at point
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Q
 Numerical Implementation
Discretisation

Unknowns

N ∂φ (Q j ) N
1
2 φ ( Pi ) = ∑ ∫ K 2 ( Pi ,Q j )dΓ j − ∑ φ (Q j ) ∫ K1 ( Pi , Q j )dΓ j
j =1 ∂n Γj
j =1
Γj

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 Numerical Implementation
Discretisation

Le K1ij = ∫ K1 ( Pi , Q j )dΓ j
Γj
K 2ij = ∫ K 2 ( Pi ,Q j )dΓ j
Γj

t
Unknowns

N ∂φ (Q j ) N
1
2 φ ( Pi ) = ∑ K 2ij − ∑ φ (Q j ) K1ij
j =1 ∂n j =1

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Numerical Implementation
φ ( Pi ) = φ (Q j ) when i = j

∂φ (Q j )
∑(K + δ ij )φ (Q j ) = ∑ K 2ij
N N
1
1ij 2
j =1 j =1 ∂n

Ax = Bz
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 Numerical Implementation
Neumann Problem

Ax = c Matrix A and vector C are

known

Dirichlet Problem
c = Bz Matrix B and vector C are
known

Mixed case

Ax = Bz Unknowns and knowns can be separated in

to same form as above
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 Numerical Implementation
As each point p in the domain is expressed in terms of
the boundary values, once all boundary values are known ANY
potential value within the domain can now be found.
∂φ
C ( P )φ ( P ) = ∫ K 2 ( P, Q) dΓ(Q ) − ∫ K1 ( P, Q )φ (Q ) dΓ(Q )
Γ ∂n Γ

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 Boundary Element Method
(BEM)
THE END

Book: The Boundary Element Method

in Engineering A.A.BECKER

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