This book presents a unified theory of the Finite Element Method and the Boundary Element Method for a numerical solution of second order elliptic boundary value problems. This includes the solvability, stability, and error analysis as well as efficient methods to solve the resulting linear systems. Applications are the potential equation, the system of linear elastostatics and the Stokes system. While there are textbooks on the finite element method, this is one of the first books on Theory of Boundary Element Methods. It is suitable for self study and exercises are included.
From the reviews:
“Steinbach introduces known fundamental solutions ... for the potential equation, linear elasticity, the Stokes system, and the Helmholtz equation. ... For a reader who has a basic knowledge of functional analysis, Steinbach’s book is a nice and relatively compact introduction to the error analysis of Galerkin boundary element methods and its fast realization.” (Hans-Görg Roos, SIAM Review, Vol. 52 (4), 2010)