Let's say you have a 1D heat diffusion problem
<br />
\dfrac{\partial u}{\partial t} = k \dfrac{\partial ^2u}{\partial x^2}<br />
where 0<=x<=L, and with Dirichlet boundary conditions
<br />
u(0,t)=u(L,t)=0<br />
and initial temperature distribution
<br />
u(x,0)=f(x)<br />
To SOV set:
<br />
u(x,t)=\phi(x)T(t)<br />
We could set the separation constant -\lambda
you get
<br />
\dfrac{\phi^''}{\phi}=\dfrac{1}{k} \dfrac {T^'}{t}=- \lambda<br />
you end up having 2 ODEs
<br />
\phi^{''}+\lambda \phi = 0<br />
and
<br />
T^{'}+\lambda kt = 0<br />
\phi^{''}+\lambda \phi = 0 is the spatial ODE. it's the simplest form of Sturm-Liouville Eigenvalue problem.
we can prove that the only way to get nontrivial solution is when \lambda>0, and the general solution to the spatial problem is
<br />
\phi(x)=c1 sin(\sqrt{\lambda}x)+c2 cos(\sqrt{\lambda}x)<br />
To satisfy the Dirichlet BC, it requires c2=0 and
<br />
\lambda=(\dfrac{n \pi}{L})^2<br />
now you have
<br />
\phi(x)= cn \sin(\dfrac{n\pi x}{L})<br />
the solution to T is
<br />
T(t)=Bne^{-k \lambda t}<br />
Plug lambda into T(t) and apply principle of superposition you have
<br />
u(x,t)=\sum _{n=1} ^{\infty} A_{n}sin \dfrac{n \pi x}{L}e^{-k(n \pi/L)^2t}<br />
Now you need to make u(x,t) satisfy the initial condition and determine the A_{n}. Let us know if you have further problems.
Benzoate said:
Should I let X= c1 cos (\mu x) + c2 sin (\mux)
and k=-\mu2 ; should I write T/T' in terms of c and k ?
What is the spatial ODE?
Not sure how to determined the eigenvalues