A combined BEM and Laplace transform for unsteady modified-Helmholtz equation of time–space variable coefficients for anisotropic media

Purpose Two-dimensional (2D) problems are governed by unsteady anisotropic modified-Helmholtz equation of time–space dependent coefficients are considered. The problems are transformed into a boundary-only integral equation which can be solved numerically using a standard boundary element method (BEM). Some examples are solved to show the validity of the analysis and examine the accuracy of the numerical method. Design/methodology/approach The 2D problems which are governed by unsteady anisotropic modified-Helmholtz equation of time–space dependent coefficients are solved using a combined BEM and Laplace transform. The time–space dependent coefficient equation is reduced to a time-dependent coefficient equation using an analytical transformation. Then, the time-dependent coefficient equation is Laplace transformed to get a constant coefficient equation, which can be written as a boundary-only integral equation. By utilizing a BEM, this integral equation is solved to find numerical solutions to the problems in the frame of the Laplace transform. These solutions are then inversely transformed numerically to obtain solutions in the original time–space frame. Findings The main finding of this research is the derivation of a boundary-only integral equation for the solutions of initial-boundary value problems governed by a modified-Helmholtz equation of time–space dependent coefficients for anisotropic functionally graded materials with time-dependent properties. Originality/value The originality of the research lies on the time dependency of properties of the functionally graded material under consideration.