Olaf Steinbach – författare

Boundary Element Methods (BEM) play an important role in modern numerical computations in the applied and engineering sciences. These methods turn out to be powerful tools for numerical studies of various physical phenomena which can be described mathematically by partial differential equations.

The most prominent example is the potential equation (Laplace equation), which is used to model physical phenomena in electromagnetism, gravitation theory, and in perfect fluids. A further application leading to the Laplace equation is the model of steady state heat flow. One of the most popular applications of the BEM is the system of linear elastostatics, which can be considered in both bounded and unbounded domains. A simple model for a fluid flow, the Stokes system, can also be solved by the use of the BEM. The most important examples for the Helmholtz equation are the acoustic scattering and the sound radiation.

The Fast Solution of Boundary Integral Equations provides a detailed description of fast boundary element methods which are based on rigorous mathematical analysis. In particular, a symmetric formulation of boundary integral equations is used, Galerkin discretisation is discussed, and the necessary related stability and error estimates are derived. For the practical use of boundary integral methods, efficient algorithms together with their implementation are needed. The authors therefore describe the Adaptive Cross Approximation Algorithm, starting from the basic ideas and proceeding to their practical realization. Numerous examples representing standard problems are given which underline both theoretical results and the practical relevance of boundary element methods in typical computations.

Finite element methods are the most popular methods for solving partial differential equations numerically, and despite having a history of more than 50 years, there is still active research on their analysis, application and extension. This book features overview papers and original research articles from participants of the 30th Chemnitz Finite Element Symposium, which itself has a 40-year history. Covering topics including numerical methods for equations with fractional partial derivatives; isogeometric analysis and other novel discretization methods, like space-time finite elements and boundary elements; analysis of a posteriori error estimates and adaptive methods; enhancement of efficient solvers of the resulting systems of equations, discretization methods for partial differential equations on surfaces; and methods adapted to applications in solid and fluid mechanics, it offers readers insights into the latest results.

This volume provides an introduction to modern space-time discretization methods such as finite and boundary elements and isogeometric analysis for time-dependent initial-boundary value problems of parabolic and hyperbolic type. Particular focus is given on stable formulations, error estimates, adaptivity in space and time, efficient solution algorithms, parallelization of the solution pipeline, and applications in science and engineering.

 Domain decomposition methods are a well established tool for an efficient numerical solution of partial differential equations, in particular for the coupling of different model equations and of different discretization methods. Based on the approximate solution of local boundary value problems either by finite or boundary element methods, the global problem is reduced to an operator equation on the skeleton of the domain decomposition. Different variational formulations then lead to hybrid domain decomposition methods. 

This volume contains eleven state of the art contributions on boundary integral equation and boundary element methods. Beside some historical and more analytical aspects in the formulation and analysis of boundary integral equations also modern fast boundary element methods are described and analyzed from a mathematical point of view. In addition, engineering and industrial applications of those methods are presented showing the ability of state of the art boundary element methods to solve challenging problems from different fields of applications.

This book is addressed to researchers, graduate students and practitioners working on and using boundary element methods. All contributions also show the great achievements of interdisciplinary research between mathematicians and engineers, with direct applications in industry.

This volume contains eight state of the art contributions on mathematical aspects and applications of fast boundary element methods in engineering and industry. This covers the analysis and numerics of boundary integral equations by using differential forms, preconditioning of hp boundary element methods, the application of fast boundary element methods for solving challenging problems in magnetostatics, the simulation of micro electro mechanical systems, and for contact problems in solid mechanics. Other contributions are on recent results on boundary element methods for the solution of transient problems.

This book is addressed to researchers, graduate students and practitioners working on and using boundary element methods. All contributions also show the great achievements of interdisciplinary research between mathematicians and engineers, with direct applications in engineering and industry.

This volume on some recent aspects of finite element methods and their applications is dedicated to Ulrich Langer and Arnd Meyer on the occasion of their 60th birthdays in 2012. Their work combines the numerical analysis of finite element algorithms, their efficient implementation on state of the art hardware architectures, and the collaboration with engineers and practitioners. In this spirit, this volume contains contributions of former students and collaborators indicating the broad range of their interests in the theory and application of finite element methods.

Topics cover the analysis of domain decomposition and multilevel methods, including hp finite elements, hybrid discontinuous Galerkin methods, and the coupling of finite and boundary element methods; the efficient solution of eigenvalue problems related to partial differential  equations with applications in electrical engineering and optics; and the solution of direct and inverse field problems in solid mechanics.