Isogeometric boundary element methods are found to exhibit one of the 
cleanest applications of the isogeometric approach whereby CAD-based 
surface discretisations can be used directly to perform analysis. The 
benefits of the approach for industrial conceptual design are 
considerable, primarily due to a circumvention of mesh generation and a 
geometrically exact analysis model. But the approach has significant 
ramifications for industrial design software where a single design and 
analysis model will allow engineers and designers to work effortlessly 
with design and analysis models.

Recent work has demonstrated the approach for applications including 
linear elasticity, wave-breaking resistance of ships, potential problems 
and wave scattering problems. Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) are 
seen to be the predominant discretisation tool at present, but the use 
of T-splines which have superior properties over NURBS from both a 
geometry and analysis perspective is gaining momentum. This talk will 
discuss some of the recent work which has applied a T-spline 
discretisation approach to a boundary element formulation. Focus will be 
given to the application of wave scattering phenomena relevant to 
acoustic and electromagnetic applications and reference will be made to 
the conformity requirements for electromagnetic applications and the 
challenges that lie ahead.