AbstractThe mapped infinite element of Zienkiewiczet al.is investigated for three‐dimensional wave scattering applications. The optimal location of the infinite elements as a function of frequency is considered. Near‐field and far‐field convergence are each examined. The results demonstrate that the mapped infinite element is an extremely effective absorbing boundary condition for many applications. In addition, if far‐field accuracy is the desired computational quantity, the infinite elements can be located extremely close to the scatterer surface, significantly reducing the problem dimensi