Boundary element solution of heat convection-diffusion problems (Q5895426)

A boundary element method for the solution of two-dimensional steady state convective heat diffusion problems in homogeneous and isotropic media with both linear and nonlinear boundary conditions is the paper's subject. Through an exponential variable transformation, the introduction of fundamental solutions and the use of Green's theorems, the problem is reduced to one involving values of temperature and/or heat flux in the form of an integral along the boundary. The integral is determined numerically for three examples. The method is extended to transient problems and three dimensional problems and the relevant fundamental solutions are given. Finally, the exponential variable transformation is applied to construct a functional of a variational principle which leads to a finite element formulation of the problem with a banded symmetric stiffness matrix.