Is there any free software to solve Laplace or Stokes equation by the boundary element method. Brebbia and his coworkers have publish a certain number of books those I've read only address 2D oversimplified potential problems. Axisymmetric problems or 3D problems are very seldom described in detail.

I would prefer to use P.K Banerjee as the source for boundary element methods (the person who coined BEM). The Boundary Element Methods in Engineering, 1994 is a good reference material.

Of course, no (BEM) book will spell out how to solve 3D problems (by giving a code). Both Brebbia and Banerjee sell their commercial codes (of course they're not interested in giving out codes for free!)

On the technical side - What kind of boundary conditions and what kind of interior field (properties) are you interested in?

Adrin Gharakhani

Thank you for your advice concerning Banerjee's text. To answer you your question, I am interested in direct or inverse problems both any kind of boundary conditions (Neumann Dirichlet or mixed nonlinear or linear) The problems I deal with range from electricity to heat conduction (steady or unsteady) or viscous flows. I already have written my own codes for Laplace equations in 2D, 3D axi or 3D and a colleague of mine have developped analogous software for the heat diffusion equation.

There is a free BEM software BEST 3D developed by P.K.Banerjee's group almost ten years ago within NASA grant. It was a basis for a commercial code GPbest marketed by Dr.Banerjee. Sorry, I could not locate it on the NASA web site, but I was told that you may contact NASA and get the code only for a small distribution fee. I'm not sure if it does apply to a citizen of France, but give a try... NASA report is:"Best3D user's manual <microform> : boundary element solution technology 3dimensional" / <P.K. Banerjee and R.B. Wilson>.Technical report NASA CR-185298 Regards