SUMMARYThe direct boundary element method based on the Rayleigh-Green identity is employed for the static analysis of Kirchhoff plates. The starting point is a slightly modified version of Stern's equations. The focus is on the implementation of the method for linear elements and a Hermitian interpolation for the deflection w. The concept of element matrices is developed and the Cauchy principal values of the singular integrals are given in detail. The treatment of domain integrals, the handling of internal supports, the properties of the solution and the effect of singularities are discused. Numerical examples ilIustrate the various techniques. In the appendix the influence functions for the second and third derivatives of the deflection w are given.