Variational Methods for Boundary Integral Equations: Theory and Applications

Abstract

Variational methods for boundary integral equations deal with the weak formulations of boundary integral equations. Their numerical discretizations are known as the boundary element methods. The later has become one of the most popular numerical schemes in recent years. In this expository paper, we discuss some of the essential features of the methods, their intimate relations with the variational formulations of the corresponding partial differential equations and recent developments with respect to applications in domain composition from both mathematical and numerical points of view.