Introduction

Abstract

Since the advent of the digital computer, there has been a revolution in the general area of mathematical modelling. Highly sophisticated and detailed analysis of most engineering problems has become possible, where only crude approximations had to be relied upon. For many problems of simple geometry and boundary conditions, exact solutions have existed for decades. Unfortunately most problems of engineering interest involve complicated geometries and boundary conditions. The cost-effectiveness and competitiveness of an engineering product depends greatly on the sophistication of the analysis employed during the design process. This necessitates the use of numerical methods to obtain approximate solutions to real engineering problems.