Exploiting partial or complete geometrical symmetry in 3D symmetric Galerkin indirect BEM formulations

Procedures based on group representation theory, allowing the exploitation of geometrical symmetry in symmetric Galerkin BEM formulations, are investigated. In particular, this investigation is based on the weaker assumption of partial geometrical symmetry, where the boundary has two disconnected components, one of which is symmetric; e.g. this can be very useful for defect identification problems. The main development is expounded in the context of 3D Neumann elastostatic problems, considered as model problems; and then extended to SGBIE formulations for Dirichlet and/or scalar problems. Both Abelian and non-Abelian finite symmetry groups are considered. The effectiveness of the present approach is demonstrated through numerical examples, where both partial and complete symmetry are considered, in connection with both Abelian and non-Abelian symmetry groups.