# Homework Help: Neumann BVP steady state solution

1. Jul 19, 2011

### bmxicle

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
$$U_t = u_{xx} - 4U$$
$$u_x (0, t) = 0, u_x (\pi, t) = 1$$
$$u(x, 0) = 4cos(4x)$$

Find a steady state solution to the boundary value problem.

2. Relevant equations
n/a

3. The attempt at a solution
Well i'm quite comfortable solving dirichlet/ mixed boundary value problems of this form. I was under the impression that you must search for a solution of the form
$$u(x,t) = w(x,t) + v(x,t)$$ where, $$w(x, t) = ax^2 + bx + ct$$ Since there cannot be a steady state solution because the boundary value rates of change are not equal, so there cannot be a solution that doesn't change with time.

I have the solution, and it sets $$U_t = 0$$ and goes about finding the 'steady state' solution and finding the eigenfunctions, but that seems wrong to me because of the reasons mentioned above. So i'm just wondering where my thinking is going wrong and why you can find a steady state solution to a neumann boundary value problem of this type.

2. Jul 20, 2011

### hunt_mat

What about separation of variables, transform methods (Laplace transform in t perhaps) or even Greens functions.

3. Jul 20, 2011

### bmxicle

Separation of variables along with eigenfunction expansion are the only methods i have learned for solving PDEs as of yet, so maybe I just haven't learned the proper method for this question.

The solution I have uses separation of variables, but I'm just questioning why you can use separation of variables to find a steady state solution, when it seems to me that one shouldn't exist due to the boundary conditions.

4. Jul 20, 2011

### hunt_mat

I am pretty sure that taking the Laplace transform in t will solve your problem nicely

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