This paper presents a two-dimensional p-version static infinite element for analyzing 1/r(n)(n = 0.5, 1, 2,etc.) type decay problems in unbounded media An approximate function is derived by using orthogonal polynomials for the l/r(n) decay problems. And an infinite element is developed by using shape functions based on the approximate function. Numerical example analyses are presented for a cylindrical opening in an elastic homogeneous infinite medium and for a flexible disk footing rested on the surface of an elastic nomogeneous half-space. The numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed infinite element. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.