Abstract
Current methods to deal with Cauchy principal‐value (CPV) integrals in advanced boundary‐element implementations have been almost entirely based on indirect approaches (such as the rigid‐body motion in elastostatics). The present paper illustrates an alternative direct approach for the rigorous treatment and numerical evaluation of general CPV integrals in three‐dimensional problems. The method has general validity. It can be applied in any field of applied mechanics and with curved boundary elements of any order and type. As expected, the mesh pattern around the pole does not affect the numerical results.