A note on the polynomial solution of a class of dual integral equations arising in mixed boundary value problems of elasticity

Summary The present paper is concerned with finding an effective polynomial solution to a class of dual integral equations which arise in many mixed boundary value problems in the theory of elasticity. The dual integral equations are first transformed into a Fredholm integration equation of the second kind via an auxiliary function, which is next reduced to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations by representing the unknown auxiliary function in the form of an infinite series of Jacobi polynomials. The approximate solution of this infinite system of equations can be obtained by a suitable truncation. It is shown that the unknown function involving the dual integral equations can also be expressed in the form of an infinite series of Jacobi polynomials with the same expansion coefficients with no numerical integration involved. The main advantage of the present approach is that the solution of the dual integral equations thus obtained is numerically more stable than that obtained by reducing themdirectly into an infinite system of equations, insofar as the expansion coefficients are determined essentially by solving asecond kind integral equation.