Degenerate scales and boundary element analysis of two dimensional potential and elasticity problems

Some widely used conventional boundary integral equations yield non-equivalent solutions compared to their corresponding boundary value problems when the scales in the fundamental solutions reach their degenerate scale values. The effects of such degenerate scales on a two-dimensional boundary element solution of potential and plane elasticity problems are investigated for different geometries. Moreover, a simple convenient method is suggested to evaluate these degenerate scales. On the other hand, using the necessary and sufficient boundary integral formulation can eliminate the non-equivalence of these conventional boundary integral formulations. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd