In recent years various types
of bridge structures have been highly developed and there has been an
increasing
demand for a new, effective method of analysis. It is often
difficult to cope with such problems independently by a single numerical
method, and a practically effective method of analysis is required. Many
researchers have worked on the hybrid
techniques. In those techniques,
coupling of two of the well-known numerical methods such as boundary element, finite
strip, finite difference, and finite element methods is implemented. Their
publications have created controversies over the effectiveness of the coupling
technique. The author presents an overview of the past researches including his
own in the area of coupling of those numerical methods for the analysis of
thin-plated structures, particularly used in highway bridges. The potentiality
of hybrid techniques in solving many problems where the distinctive advantages
of those methods is effectively utilised.