A MATLAB Code for Three Dimensional Linear Elastostatics using Constant Boundary Elements

TL;DR

This paper provides an open access MATLAB code for three-dimensional linear elastostatics using constant boundary elements, aimed at helping beginners understand and modify boundary element methods for engineering problems.

Contribution

The paper introduces the first known open access MATLAB code for 3D linear elastostatics with constant boundary elements, facilitating learning and further development.

Findings

Code verified with a problem having a known analytical solution

Provides detailed explanation and formulas used in the code

Aims to assist beginners in understanding boundary element implementation

Abstract

Present work presents a code written in the very simple programming language MATLAB, for three dimensional linear elastostatics, using constant boundary elements. The code, in full or in part, is not a translation or a copy of any of the existing codes. Present paper explains how the code is written, and lists all the formulae used. Code is verified by using the code to solve a simple problem which has the well known approximate analytical solution. Of course, present work does not make any contribution to research on boundary elements, in terms of theory. But the work is justified by the fact that, to the best of author's knowledge, as of now, one cannot find an open access MATLAB code for three dimensional linear elastostatics using constant boundary elements. Author hopes this paper to be of help to beginners who wish to understand how a simple but complete boundary element code works, so that they can build upon and modify the present open access code to solve complex engineering problems quickly and easily. The code is available online for open access (as supplementary file for the present paper), and may be downloaded from the website for the present journal.