The boundary and shell element method (Q1337230)

This paper presents the mixed or dual boundary element formulation applied to the Laplace equation in presence of line discontinuities. The formulation is essentially the same already used by fracture mechanics researchers in the elasticity context and is based on the application of the so-called hypersingular integral equation (also known as flux integral equation) on one side of the discontinuity coupled with the standard integral equation for source points on the rest of the boundary (including the other side of the discontinuity). The author, however, introduces the indirect as well as the direct boundary element approach as alternative means of solution.