MHB Solving Laplace's Eq with Mixed BCs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dustinsfl
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Laplace Mixed
Click For Summary
Laplace's equation is solved on a rectangle with mixed boundary conditions, specifically $u_y(x,0) = 0$, $u_x(0,y) = 0$, $u(x,H) = f(x)$, and $u_x(L,y) + u(L,y) = 0$. The solution is approached using separation of variables, assuming a form $u(x,y) = \varphi(x)\psi(y)$. The eigenfunctions are determined to be $\varphi_n(x) = A\cos\lambda_nx$, with eigenvalues satisfying $\tan\lambda_n = \frac{1}{\lambda_n}$. Due to the boundary condition at $y=0$, the coefficients $B_n$ are set to zero, leading to the final solution expressed as $u(x,y) = \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}A_n\cos\lambda_nx\cosh\lambda_ny.
Dustinsfl
Messages
2,217
Reaction score
5
Solve Laplace’s equation $\nabla^2u = 0$ on the rectangle with the following boundary conditions:
$$
u_y(x,0) = 0\quad u_x(0,y) = 0\quad u(x,H) = f(x)\quad u_x(L,y) + u(L,y) = 0.
$$

How are mixed BC handled?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Consider the boundary conditions $u_x(0,y) = 0$ and $u_x(L,y) + u(L,y) = 0$.
Therefore, if $u(x,y)$ is of the form $u(x,y) = \varphi(x)\psi(y)$, $\varphi_n(x) = A\cos\lambda_nx$ and the eigenvalues are determined by
$$
\tan\lambda_n = \frac{1}{\lambda_n}.
$$
So we have that
$$
\begin{alignat*}{3}
u(x,y) & = & \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}A\cos\lambda_nx(B\cosh\lambda_ny + C\sinh\lambda_ny)\\
& = & \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}\cos\lambda_nx(A_n\cosh\lambda_ny + B_n\sinh\lambda_ny)
\end{alignat*}
$$
Now because of the first boundary condition, $u_y(x,0)$, we have that $B_n = 0$.
Therefore, the solution is of the form
$$
u(x,y) = \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty}A_n\cos\lambda_nx\cosh\lambda_ny.
$$
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K