Heat Equation- Constant Dirichlet and Neumann BCs

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on solving the heat equation \( U_t = C U_{zz} \) with specified boundary conditions: \( U(L, t) = 0 \) and \( U_z(0, t) = -B \), where \( B \) is a constant. The initial condition is \( U(z, 0) = U_0 \), where \( U_0 \) is also a constant. Participants explore methods for addressing Neumann boundary conditions and the separation of variables technique.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in solving the heat equation with the given Neumann boundary condition, seeking resources or guidance.
  • Another participant suggests that the problem involves a delta function at the origin, indicating the need for careful integration around it, although they later question the relevance of this approach.
  • Multiple participants confirm that the equation is separable and provide a general solution form, but there is uncertainty about how to achieve the required derivative condition of \( U_z(0, t) = -B \).
  • One participant proposes a method involving the calculation of both a steady-state solution and a transient solution, suggesting that the steady-state solution can be derived from the boundary conditions.
  • A later reply outlines a detailed approach to obtaining the solution, including the separation of variables and the derivation of the total solution, while inviting others to verify the calculations for accuracy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the separability of the equation and the need to consider both steady-state and transient solutions. However, there is no consensus on the best method to handle the Neumann boundary condition or on the correctness of the proposed solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of boundary conditions in deriving solutions, and there are references to specific mathematical techniques such as Fourier series and quarter-range extensions. Some assumptions about the nature of the solutions and the behavior at boundaries remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals studying partial differential equations, particularly those interested in boundary value problems and the heat equation in mathematical physics.

Brainer101
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Hi all,

I need to solve the heat equation (Ut=C*Uzz) with the following boundary conditions: U(max z,t)=0 and Uz(0,t)=-B. where B is a constant. My initial condition is U(z,0)=Uo where Uo is a constant.

I know how to solve the equation for simple 0 boundary conditions. The Neumann BC is especially giving me problems. If anybody knows how to solve this, or can give me a resource to solve this, it would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
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it's a delta function at the origin, you have to integrate around it carefully to show that the discontinuity in the derivative of the space solution is a certain finite quantity related to the value of the solution itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_function_potential

you can adapt those methods for the heat equation

i just realized that that's U_Z that has a value at z=0. i guess the delta potential isn't even relevant. i haven't done pdes but this is a separable eqn right?
 
Last edited:
yes, the equation is separable.

The general solution to the equation is:
U(z,t) = e-l2t*[Dsin(l/C*z)+Ecos(l/c*z)]

D and E are functions of z. From my initial condition being constant, E=0. I know the Fourier series for D to model my initial condition, and i know what l has to be. C is a pre determined constnat. So my solution has a derivative of 0, not -B. I don't know how to get the derivative to be non 0.

Thanks for any help.
 
Brainer101 said:
yes, the equation is separable.

The general solution to the equation is:
U(z,t) = e-l2t*[Dsin(l/C*z)+Ecos(l/c*z)]

D and E are functions of z. From my initial condition being constant, E=0. I know the Fourier series for D to model my initial condition, and i know what l has to be. C is a pre determined constnat. So my solution has a derivative of 0, not -B. I don't know how to get the derivative to be non 0.

Thanks for any help.

Hello Brainer, I think I have the solution to this problem. It involves the calculation of a steady-state solution and a transient one. This in order to get homogeneous boundary conditions (equal to 0). A second problem is to use the quarter range extension instead of half range as commonly done. I have just finished the calculation, but need to make sure that I did not make mistakes, so you have to give me some time to come back on this. It is late over here and I need to get up early to go to work.

To get you started try to see what happens when you set the solution to a sum of two parts, one the steady state and the other the transient. After setting the time derivative equal to zero you get the steady state solution. t will be gone and you are left with an ordinary DE in z, which is easily solved and applying the two boundary conditions gives you the steady state solution. To get the transient solution you need to adapt the boundary conditions and these will become 0 as it should.

Can you look into this? I will come back this week.
 
Hello brainer101,

Sorry that it took so long to come back, it was a busy week.

I will give some info on how to obtain the solution, with intermediate
results, but the calculation itself is something you need to do by
yourself. Come back if anything is unclear.

So, the way to solve this problem is by stating that the solution
is made up of two parts, one part the steady-state and the other
the transient. This means that you need to write the solution as:

[tex]U(z,t)=V(z,t)+W(z,t)[/tex]

with V(z,t) the steady-state solution and W(z,t) the transient part.
The steady-state solution is independent of time t. Thus we have V(z).

Substituting this into the original PDE gives then the following two
equations:

[tex]\frac{dV^2}{dz^2}=0[/tex]
[tex]\frac{\partial W}{\partial t}=C \cdot \frac{\partial^2 W}{\partial t^2}[/tex]

The first equation (steady-state) has the following boundary conditions:

[tex]V(L)=0[/tex]
[tex]\left . \frac{dV}{dz}\right|_{z=0}=-B[/tex]

The solution is thus:

[tex]V(z)=B(L-z)[/tex]

The second equation can be solved by separation of the variables. This gives
two ODEs:

[tex]\frac{T'}{T}=C\frac{Z''}{Z}=\sigma[/tex]

which is:

[tex]T'-\sigma T=0[/tex]
[tex]Z''-\frac{\sigma}{C}Z=0[/tex]

The boundary conditions are here now:

[tex]Z(L)=0[/tex]
[tex]Z'(0)=0[/tex]

Now there are three possible values for sigma, smaller, equal and larger than zero.
First let's consider zero. This gives the zero solution and must be discarded.
Secondly consider a positive value, this gives a non-bounded solution and must be discarded. Finally let's consider a negative value and set it equal to:

[tex]\sigma=\lambda^2[/tex]

The equation for T gives now:

[tex]T(t)=K_1\cdot e^{-\lambda^2 t}[/tex]

The one for Z is now:

[tex]Z''+\frac{\lambda^2}{C}Z=0[/tex]

The solution:

[tex]Z(z)=K_3 cos\left(\frac{\lambda}{\sqrt{C}}z\right)[/tex]

after applying the boundary conditions. The value for lambda is:

[tex]\lambda_k=\frac{\sqrt{C}}{L}(2k+1)\frac{\pi}{2}[/tex]

and k=0,1,2,...

The total solution (transient and steady-state) is now given as:

[tex]U(z,t)=B(L-z)+\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}K_k\cdot e^{-\lambda^2_k t}\cdot cos\left(\frac{(2k+1)\pi z}{2L}\right)[/tex]

At t=0 the initial condition gives:

[tex]U_0-B(L-z)=\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}K_k\cdot cos\left(\frac{(2k+1)\pi z}{2L}\right)[/tex]

The coefficients Kk can be found by using a Fourier series expansion by a quarter
periodic extension with odd terms.

This gives after some integrals:

[tex]K_k=\frac{4U_0(-1)^k}{(2k+1)\pi}-\frac{8BL}{(2k+1)^2\pi^2}[/tex]

and the total solution is now complete.

Hopefully I didn't make any mistakes, so check this very carefully.

best regards,

coomast
 

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