  We explore variational approach to the finite-volume $N$-body problem. The
general formalism for N non-relativistic spinless particles interacting with
periodic pair-wise potentials yields N-body secular equations. The solutions
depend on the infinite-volume N-body wave functions. Given that the
infinite-volume N-body dynamics may be solved by the standard Faddeev approach,
the variational N-body formalism can provide a convenient numerical framework
for finding discrete energy spectra in periodic lattice structures.
