This book discusses the introduction of isogeometric technology to the boundary element method (BEM) in order to establish an improved link between simulation and computer aided design (CAD) that does not require mesh generation. In the isogeometric BEM, non-uniform rational B-splines replace the Lagrange polynomials used in conventional BEM. This may seem a trivial exercise, but if implemented rigorously, it has profound implications for the programming, resulting in software that is extremely user friendly and efficient. The BEM is ideally suited for linking with CAD, as both rely on the definition of objects by boundary representation. The book shows how the isogeometric philosophy can be implemented and how its benefits can be maximised with a minimum of user effort. Using several examples, ranging from potential problems to elasticity, it demonstrates that the isogeometric approach results in a drastic reduction in the number of unknowns and an increase in the quality of the results. In some cases even exact solutions without refinement are possible. The book also presents a number of practical applications, demonstrating that the development is not only of academic interest. It then elegantly addresses heterogeneous and non-linear problems using isogeometric concepts, and tests them on several examples, including a severely non-linear problem in viscous flow. The book makes a significant contribution towards a seamless integration of CAD and simulation, which eliminates the need for tedious mesh generation and provides high-quality results with minimum user intervention and computing.

This thorough yet understandable introduction to the boundary element method presents an attractive alternative to the finite element method. It not only explains the theory but also presents the implementation of the theory into computer code, the code in FORTRAN 95 can be freely downloaded. The book also addresses the issue of efficiently using parallel processing hardware in order to considerably speed up the computations for large systems. The applications range from problems of heat and fluid flow to static and dynamic elasto-plastic problems in continuum mechanics.

This richly-illustrated reference guide presents innovative techniques focused on reducing time, cost and risk in the construction and maintenance of underground facilities:

A primary focus of the technological development in underground engineering is to ease the practical execution and to reduce time, cost and risk in the construction and maintenance of underground facilities such as tunnels and caverns. This can be realized by new design tools for designers, by instant data access for engineers, by virtual prototyping and training for manufacturers, and by robotic devices for maintenance and repair for operators and many more advances.

This volume presents the latest technological innovations in underground design, construction, and operation, and comprehensively discusses developments in ground improvement, simulation, process integration, safety, monitoring, environmental impact, equipment, boring and cutting, personnel training, materials, robotics and more. These new features are the result of a big research project on underground engineering, which has involved many players in the discipline.

Written in an accessible style and with a focus on applied engineering, this book is aimed at a readership of engineers, consultants, contractors, operators, researchers, manufacturers, suppliers and clients in the underground engineering business. It may moreover be used as educational material for advanced courses in tunnelling and underground construction.

The planned construction of traffic routes through the European Alps represents a challenge for science and technology. In the past decades, Austria has gained a leading position in the field of tunnelling. This has been verified by many successful projects all over the world, which have been realised with the well-known "New Austrian Tunnelling Method". However, further development and economic success of modern tunnelling methods, which are still partly based on empirical assumptions, can only be assured if their scientific basis is improved. The book discusses the application of numerical simulation methods to assist tunnel engineers. Numerical simulation tools for the estimation of the required tunnel support and the required construction measures are described in this book. By using them, it is possible to study the impact on construction and environment during the planning stage and during construction. This will result in an improvement of the safety and economy of tunnels.

This book is an entertaining, easy to read introduction to advanced numerical modeling. The aim of the book is to lead the reader on a journey towards the 'holy grail' of numerical simulation, namely one without the requirement of mesh generation, that takes data directly from CAD programs. On this journey readers will discover the beauty of Non-uniform Rational B-Splines or NURBS and see how well they are suited for describing geometry, discover how CAD programs work and how their data can be used for simulation. The implementation of NURBS-based simulation is discussed using Finite Element and Boundary Element technology. This is a hands-on book with emphasis on implementation and examples of programming in a higher level language are given. It has been written for users of simulation software, so they can understand the benefits of this new technology and demand progress from a somewhat conservative industry, for software developers, so they can see that this is a technology with a big future and for researchers, in the hope that it will attract more people to work in this exciting new field.

This text presents the results of the joint research initiative "Numercial Simulation in Tunneling." In doing so it provides a thorough guide to improving the safety and economy of tunnels by discussing the application of numerical simulation methods to assist tunnel engineers. Numerical simulation tools for the estimation of the required tunnel support and the required construction measures are described in this book. By using them, it is possible to study the impact on the construction and on the environment at the planning stadium and during construction. This will result in an improvement of the safety and economy of tunnels.

This thorough yet understandable introduction to the boundary element method presents an attractive alternative to the finite element method. It not only explains the theory but also presents the implementation of the theory into computer code, the code in FORTRAN 95 can be freely downloaded. The book also addresses the issue of efficiently using parallel processing hardware in order to considerably speed up the computations for large systems. The applications range from problems of heat and fluid flow to static and dynamic elasto-plastic problems in continuum mechanics.

This book is an entertaining, easy to read introduction to advanced numerical modeling. The aim of the book is to lead the reader on a journey towards the 'holy grail' of numerical simulation, namely one without the requirement of mesh generation, that takes data directly from CAD programs. On this journey readers will discover the beauty of Non-uniform Rational B-Splines or NURBS and see how well they are suited for describing geometry, discover how CAD programs work and how their data can be used for simulation. The implementation of NURBS-based simulation is discussed using Finite Element and Boundary Element technology. This is a hands-on book with emphasis on implementation and examples of programming in a higher level language are given. It has been written for users of simulation software, so they can understand the benefits of this new technology and demand progress from a somewhat conservative industry, for software developers, so they can see that this is a technology with a big future and for researchers, in the hope that it will attract more people to work in this exciting new field.

This book discusses the introduction of isogeometric technology to the boundary element method (BEM) in order to establish an improved link between simulation and computer aided design (CAD) that does not require mesh generation. In the isogeometric BEM, non-uniform rational B-splines replace the Lagrange polynomials used in conventional BEM. This may seem a trivial exercise, but if implemented rigorously, it has profound implications for the programming, resulting in software that is extremely user friendly and efficient. The BEM is ideally suited for linking with CAD, as both rely on the definition of objects by boundary representation. The book shows how the isogeometric philosophy can be implemented and how its benefits can be maximised with a minimum of user effort. Using several examples, ranging from potential problems to elasticity, it demonstrates that the isogeometric approach results in a drastic reduction in the number of unknowns and an increase in the quality of the results. In some cases even exact solutions without refinement are possible. The book also presents a number of practical applications, demonstrating that the development is not only of academic interest. It then elegantly addresses heterogeneous and non-linear problems using isogeometric concepts, and tests them on several examples, including a severely non-linear problem in viscous flow. The book makes a significant contribution towards a seamless integration of CAD and simulation, which eliminates the need for tedious mesh generation and provides high-quality results with minimum user intervention and computing.