The present development considers the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for the collapse load evaluation of plane strain problems, using the static theorem of the limit analysis. This analysis is based on the rigid-plastic constitutive model, thus requiring a non-linear approach for the Boundary Element Method. Normally, non-linear analyses with BEMs require the use of an auxiliary domain discretization with internal cells. To avoid this domain discretization, the present development makes use of a new non-linear BEM approach using a pure boundary discretization recently proposed by Noronha & Pereira. The results obtained with the new BEM approach are compared with results obtained by conventional BEM and Finite Element Method (FEM). The comparison of the results for the three different approaches is based on the yield function and collapse load values.
boundary element method; limit analysis; static theorem
