A method of finding asymptotic forms at the common apex of elastic wedges (Q1369977)

Further advances in boundary element or finite element methods necessitate taking into account the corners of interacting wedges. A geometric discontinuity requires special treatment if reliable numerical results are desired. The paper proposes an efficient method of determining the asymptotic behaviour of stresses and strains in the neighbourhood of the common apex of elastic wedges. Compared with other known approaches, this method has the merit of using matrices no higher than the second-order, regardless of the number of wedges. Use of Mellin transforms reduces the problem to a system of three-point difference equations with matrices no higher than the second-order. Formulas are given for various cases. Many references to the literature.