3D elastostatics by coupling method of singular integral equations with finite elements

The coupling of the singular integral operators method (SIOM) and the finite element method (FEM) is proposed for the solution of 3D elastostatic problems. This combined approximation method is mainly used for engineering problems with regions of high stress concentration or in unbounded domains, where singularities are present. In such cases special solutions can be determined by the SIOM in areas where singularities occur or with infinite domain and these to be combined with corresponding solutions by finite elements. An application of 3D elastostatics is finally given to the determination of the elastic stress analysis of a thick cylinder subjected to an internal pressure. For the solution of the above problem the coupling method of SIOM and FEM is used. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.