A quadratic boundary element for 3D elastodynamics

Abstract

This article presents novel non-singular influence functions for homogeneous media. These solutions are displacement and stress fields of a three-dimensional, isotropic full-space under time-harmonic vertical and horizontal loads, which can be used within the framework of boundary element methods to solve elastodynamics problems in engineering practice. In order to account for sharply-varying contact tractions that may occur in such problems, the solutions in this article consider a biquadratic distribution of the loads within the loaded surface. In the present derivation, sets of Fourier transforms are used to uncouple the medium's equation of motion and enable the incorporation of boundary conditions directly as traction discontinuities. The article brings selected numerical results for various geometric and constitutive parameters.