The boundary element method on a spreadsheet

Abstract

The boundary element method is one of a variety of numerical methods for the solution of problems in applied science and engineering. However, it is not as frequently taught in the undergraduate curriculum as are the finite difference and the finite element methods. Part of the reason for this is that much of the time spent learning the method is taken up in code development. The spreadsheet environment offers the possibility of implementations without the need for a high‐level programming language. The boundary element solutions of two‐dimensional potential problems provide good examples of the use of the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet facilities are very convenient for the investigation of the properties of the solutions such as convergence and for changing the geometry or boundary conditions.