An advanced direct time domain BEM formulation for general 3-D elastodynamic problems (Q1804486)

A time domain boundary element formulation of the three-dimensional elastodynamic equations based on the Stokes fundamental solutions for infinite space is discussed. The fundamental solutions are written in terms of body forces as high order \(B\)-spline time distributions. This allows to consider time domain problems in three-dimensional unbounded media that are not amenable to finite element techniques. The calculation of the transient response of the elastodynamic system due to arbitrary loading functions is obtained as a superposition of \(B\)-spline responses which are independent of the external loading. The proposed methodology has proven to be accurate and efficient for numerical applications attempted so far, and it is exemplified in the test for a spherical cavity embedded in a linear isotropic and homogeneous medium under different loading cases, for which analytical solutions exist.