Three‐dimensional transient thermo‐elastic analyses by the BIE method

The proposed method is the direct boundary integral equation (BIE) method applied to three‐dimensional transient heat transfer analyses and to corresponding elastostatic analyses under thermal loading. The mechanical and thermal problems are decoupled. For those not familiar with the BIE method, a short survey of the basic principles is given to help them understand the mathematical treatment, which is performed in the frame of distribution theory. The tempered elementary solution of the transient heat transfer problem contains time and space variables. The numerical treatment of the thermal equation is performed analytically with respect to time and numerically with respect to space in the same way as for steady state equations. Great care is paid to space integration in order to compute the values of the kernels precisely enough on the surface and inside the volume. The computational treatments of both problems are realized in such a way as to minimize computing time. Differences between transient and steady state analyses, on the one hand, and between elastostatic analyses with and without thermal loading, on the other, are emphasized. Finally, an analytical example shows the good behaviour of the proposed method to solve singular thermal problems and an industrial example shows the accuracy of the results obtained by using the BIE method to solve three‐dimensional thermo‐elastic problems.