Boundary elements in thermal problems

The boundary element method is a new technique based on the combination of classical integral equations and finite elements concepts. In this method, nodes are only defined on the external surface, and internal unknowns are not required as the problem mathematically has been reduced into a boundary solution. The main advantages of this method are related to the reduction in the number of unknowns governing the problem and the simplicity of the input data required to implement it. In addition, the new procedure generally gives better results than domain type techniques. A detailed description of the boundary element method is provided for applications involving steady and unsteady heat conduction problems.