The superblock approach for the analytic element method

An approach, the superblock approach, is presented for increasing computational efficiency of analytic element models. The approach is based on computing the combined effect of functions using both asymptotic expansions and Taylor Series expansions. The superblocks are used to reduce both the computational effort required to determine the coefficients in the analytic element model and to reduce the effort expended in generating contour plots and streamlines. An application of flow is presented in an aquifer with one hundred thousand circular impermeable objects. The errors in the simulation are within the machine accuracy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.