# Nonlinear BVP in matlab

## Homework Statement

Solve from the differential equation below numerically for the function $\phi(x)$ for $x \in [0,L]$

$$\phi '' (x) + D(x) sin(\phi (x) ) + E sin(\phi (x) ) cos( \phi (x) ) = 0$$

with D(x) a polynomial.

Matlab.

## The Attempt at a Solution

I can rewrite it in a state space form and then iterate towards the function $\phi(x)$ if D is constant. But what can I do with that pesky D(x). If I am iterating towards D(x) I cannot iterate, right?

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Did you tried the shooting method ?
What bounday values must fulfill ##\phi(x)## ?

Right I forgot:

$$\phi(0) =0$$
$$\phi ' (L) =0$$

No I haven't tried the shooting method, it it preprogrammed in Matlab?

No, but it is straight forward. Just define you function and use some integration algorithm, e.g. R-K45, then by changing the value of ##\phi^\prime(x=0)## you should obtain ##\phi(x=L)=0##.

donpacino
Gold Member
No fsolve does not work here.

I do not understand what you mean with changing the BC.

You partial derivative equation is of second order, and this means that Beside the equation itself one has to provide two aditional values in order to determine the solution, you can either specify ##\phi(x=0)## and ##\phi(x=L)##, or ##\phi(x=0)## and ##\phi^\prime(x=0)##. You are given the function values at the ends of the interval, but the shooting methods uses the values at one end of the interval, i.e. the function and its derivative, and by integration you end up with the value of the function at the other end of the interval. This is how the shooting method work, you need to "guess" the value of ##\phi^\prime(x=0)## in order to obtain ##\phi(x=L) = 0##. You can do it by trial and error or build up some iteration loop. See also the wikipedia article on shooting method.

For other numerical methods you specify directly the values of the function at both ends of the interval.