Series solutions for Laplace''s equation with nonhomogeneous mixed boundary conditions and irregular boundaries

Series solutions to Laplace's equation provide accurate analytical results for problems with regular boundary geometries. This paper develops the series approach, providing a solution methodology for problems with nonhomogeneous, mixed boundary conditions, defined on irregular boundaries. The series coefficients are obtained by first transforming to Poisson's equation with some homogeneous boundary conditions, and then modifying the eigenfunction expansion theory to cater for irregular boundary geometry. The computational details for evaluating the series coefficients are given, and the method demonstrated by a practical example.     

An analytic series method for Laplacian problems with mixed boundary conditions

Mixed boundary value problems are characterised by a combination of Dirichlet and Neumann conditions along at least one boundary. Historically, only a very small subset of these problems could be solved using analytic series methods (“analytic” is taken here to mean a series whose terms are analytic in the complex plane). In the past, series solutions were obtained by using an appropriate choice of axes, or a co-ordinate transformation to suitable axes where the boundaries are parallel to the abscissa and the boundary conditions are separated into pure Dirichlet or Neumann form. In this paper, I will consider the more general problem where the mixed boundary conditions cannot be resolved by a co-ordinate transformation. That is, a Dirichlet condition applies on part of the boundary and a Neumann condition applies along the remaining section. I will present a general method for obtaining analytic series solutions for the classic problem where the boundary is parallel to the abscissa. In addition, I will extend this technique to the general mixed boundary value problem, defined on an arbitrary boundary, where the boundary is not parallel to the abscissa. I will demonstrate the efficacy of the method on a well known seepage problem.     

A new type of full multigrid method for the elasticity eigenvalue problem

This paper introduces a new type of full multigrid method for the elasticity eigenvalue problem. The main idea is to avoid solving large scale elasticity eigenvalue problem directly by transforming the solution of the elasticity eigenvalue problem into a series of solutions of linear boundary value problems defined on a multilevel finite element space sequence and some small scale elasticity eigenvalue problems defined on the coarsest correction space. The involved linear boundary value problems will be solved by performing some multigrid iterations. Besides, some efficient techniques such as parallel computing and adaptive mesh refinement can also be absorbed in our algorithm. The efficiency and validity of the multigrid methods are verified by several numerical experiments.     

Gas dynamics applications of a characteristic Cauchy problem

Some initial-boundary-value problems for a system of quasilinear partial differential equations of gas dynamics with the initial data prescribed on the characteristic surface (characteristic Cauchy problem) are considered. The following three-dimensional flow problems are investigated: the flow produced by a motion of an impermeable piston; the flow produced by a permeable piston with a given pressure; and the flow produced by the moving free boundary. In the first two problems, the piston motion is prescribed; in the last problem, the free boundary motion cannot be prescribed in advance and must be determined as a part of the problem. It is shown that those problems can be reduced to a characteristic Cauchy problem of a certain standard type that satisfies the analog of Cauchy-Kowalewski's existence theorem in the class of analytical functions (Differential Equations 12 (1977) 1438-1444). Thus, it is proved that, in the case of the analyticity of the input data, the considered problems have unique piecewise analytic solutions which may be expressed by infinite power series (the procedure of constructing the power series solution is described in Differential Equations 12 (1977) 1438-1444 as a part of the proof of the theorem).     

A viscoelastic analogy for solving 2-D electromagnetic problems

Solving a viscoelastic material boundary value problem provides the voltage, electric field and displacement current results to a certain class of electromagnetic problems. By means of the electromagnetic-viscoelastic analogy described herein, a solid mechanics finite element program can analyze a two-dimensional harmonic oscillation (constant frequency) electromagnetic problem for “lossy” dielectric materials. For this special class of electromagnetic field problems, the Maxwell equations reduce to a two-dimensional Laplace equation with complex coefficients. This form identically matches the viscoelasticity field equations.

This paper develops the electromagnetic-viscoelastic analogy from the basic governing field equations. The analogy is implemented in ABAQUS, a general solid mechanics finite element program. Simple one- and two-dimensional examples prove the accuracy and usefulness of the analogy.     

A repeated matching heuristic for the single-source capacitated facility location problem

Facility location models form an important class of integer programming problems, with application in many areas such as the distribution and transportation industries. An important class of solution methods for these problems are so-called Lagrangean heuristics which have been shown to produce high quality solutions and which are at the same time robust. The general facility location problem can be divided into a number of special problems depending on the properties assumed. In the capacitated location problem each facility has a specific capacity on the service it provides. We describe a new solution approach for the capacitated facility location problem when each customer is served by a single facility. The approach is based on a repeated matching algorithm which essentially solves a series of matching problems until certain convergence criteria are satisfied. The method generates feasible solutions in each iteration in contrast to Lagrangean heuristics where problem dependent heuristics must be used to construct a feasible solution. Numerical results show that the approach produces solutions which are of similar and often better than those produced using the best Lagrangean heuristics.     

具有边界摄动的非线性非局部反应扩散方程的奇摄动问题

A class of nonlinear nonlocal singularly perturbed Robin initial boundary value problems for reaction diffusion equations with boundary perturbation is considered. Under suitable conditions, firstly, the outer solution of the original problem is obtained; secondly, by using the stretched variable, the composing expansion method and the expanding theory of power series, the initial layer is constructed; and finally, by using the theory of differential inequalities the asymptotic behavior of solutions for initial boundary value problems is studied, and including some relational inequalities the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the original problem and the uniformly valid asymptotic estimation are discussed.     

A new numerical approach for solving a class of singular two-point boundary value problems

In this paper, we consider the following class of singular two-point boundary value problem posed on the interval x ?? (0, 1]

$$\begin{array}{@{}rcl@{}} (g(x)y^{\prime})^{\prime}=g(x)f(x,y),\\ y^{\prime}(0)=0,\mu y(1)+\sigma y^{\prime}(1)=B. \end{array} $$

A recursive scheme is developed, and its convergence properties are studied. Further, the error estimation of the method is discussed. The proposed scheme is based on the integral equation formalism and optimal homotopy analysis method in which a recursive scheme is established without any undetermined coefficients. The original differential equation is transformed into an equivalent integral equation to remove the singularity. The integral equation is then made free of undetermined coefficients by imposing the boundary conditions on it. Finally, the integral equation without any undetermined coefficients is efficiently treated by using optimal homotopy analysis method for finding the numerical solution. The optimal control-convergence parameter involved in the components of the series solution is obtained by minimizing the squared residual error equation. The present method is applied to obtain numerical solution of singular boundary value problems arising in various physical models, and numerical results show the advantages of our method over the existing methods.     

Two boundary value problems for a strongly anisotropic inhomogeneous elastic ring

The second boundary value problem (displacements are given on the boundary) and the improper mixed problem for a cylindrically orthotropic ring are studied. It is assumed that the coefficients of elasticity are continuously differentiable functions of the coordinates and depend on a small parameter in a specific manner. The form of the dependence of the coefficients on the small parameter is selected in such a way that in the case of constant coefficients it describes bonding of the ring by two families of very rigid fibers located along the radius vectors and concentric circles, where the stiffness of the fiber families is of identical order. Consequently, the coefficients of elasticity are represented in the form of products of constants which will later be called provisionally the “stiffnesses”, and functions of the coordinates. It is assumed that the stiffnesses in the radial and circumferential directions are equal and exceed and shear stiffness considerably. The asymptotic form of the solution of the boundary value problems under consideration is constructed when the ratio between the shear stiffness and the stiffness in the radial direction is used as the small parameter. In the case of the second boundary value problem the limit boundary value problem is described by a hyperbolic system of equations and is not solvable uniquely, since one of the families of characteristics is parallel to the boundary. When constructing the asymptotic form the necessity arises to average the coefficients of elasticity with respect to the circumferential coordinate. In this respect, there is an analogy with the results obtained in /1/ where the boundary value problem was studied for a second-order elliptic equation.     

Optimal control problems for the reaction–diffusion–convection equation with variable coefficients

The solvability of optimal control problems is proved on both weak and strong solutions of a boundary value problem for the nonlinear reaction–diffusion–convection equation with variable coefficients. In the second case, the requirements for smoothness of the multiplicative control are reduced. The study of extremal problems is based on the proof of the solvability of the corresponding boundary value problems and on the qualitative analysis of their solutions properties. The large data existence results for weak solutions, the maximum principle as well as the local existence and uniqueness of a strong solution are established. Moreover, an optimal feedback control problem is considered. Using methods of the theory of topological degree for set-valued perturbations (with aspheric image sets) of generalized monotone operators, we obtain sufficient conditions for the solvability of this problem in the class of weak solutions.     

A free boundary problem describing S–K–T competition ecological model with cross-diffusion

In this paper we investigate a free boundary problem describing S–K–T competition ecological model with two competing species and with cross-diffusion and self-diffusion in one space dimension, where one species is made up of two groups separated by a free boundary, and the other has a single group. The system under consideration is strongly coupled and the coefficients of the equations are allowed to be discontinuous. We first show the global existence and uniqueness of the solutions for the corresponding diffraction problem by approximation method, Galerkin method and Schauder fixed point theorem, and then prove the local existence of the solutions for the free boundary problem by Schauder fixed point theorem.     

Qualitative behaviour of solutions for the two-phase Navier–Stokes equations with surface tension

The two-phase free boundary value problem for the isothermal Navier–Stokes system is studied for general bounded geometries in absence of phase transitions, external forces and boundary contacts. It is shown that the problem is well-posed in an $L_p$ -setting, and that it generates a local semiflow on the induced state manifold. If the phases are connected, the set of equilibria of the system forms a $(n+1)$ -dimensional manifold, each equilibrium is stable, and it is shown that global solutions which do not develop singularities converge to an equilibrium as time goes to infinity. The latter is proved by means of the energy functional combined with the generalized principle of linearized stability.     

Acceleration of the convergence of the method of homogeneous solutions in three-dimensional problems of the theory of plates

A method is proposed for the regularization of the calculation process in investigations of homogeneous solutions of three-dimensional problems of elasticity theory by the method of homogeneous solutions. A qualitative investigation is performed of a three-dimensional compression—tension problem with mixed boundary conditions. Questions are examined of the a priori finding of limit values of the unknowns in an infinite system of equations, of the behavior of the coefficients and the series convergence on the boundary as a function of properties of the functions.Donetsk. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Prikladnaya Mekhanika, No. 21, pp. 9–13, 1990.     

Biorthogonal expansions in the first fundamental problem of elasticity theory

The first fundamental boundary-value problem of elasticity theory is considered for a rectangular semi-infinite strip whose long sides are free of stress. Separation of variables is used to reduce the solution to a series expansion of two functions defined in a closed interval (the “end” of the half-strip), in terms of homogeneous solutions. The system of homogeneous solutions over an interval of the real axis is proved to be complete in L₂. Systems of functions biorthogonal to the systems of homogeneous solutions are constructed on a certain contour on the Riemann surface of the logarithm. This biorthogonality concept is a natural generalization of biorthogonality over a closed interval. The biorthogonal systems constructed are used to find explicit expressions for the expansion coefficients.     

Image solutions for boundary value problems without sources

In this paper, we employ the image method to solve boundary value problems in domains containing circular or spherical shaped boundaries free of sources. two and threeD problems as well as symmetric and anti-symmetric cases are considered. By treating the image method as a special case of method of fundamental solutions, only at most four unknown strengths, distributed at the center, two locations of frozen images and one free constant, need to be determined. Besides, the optimal locations of sources are determined. For the symmetric and anti-symmetric cases, only two coefficients are required to match the two boundary conditions. The convergence rate versus number of image group is numerically performed. The differences of the image solutions between 2D and 3D problems are addressed. It is found that the 2D solution in terms of the bipolar coordinates is mathematically equivalent to that of the simplest MFS with only two sources and one free constant. Finally, several examples are demonstrated to see the validity of the image method for boundary value problems.     

Innovative solution of a 2D elastic transmission problem¶

This article is concerned with a boundary-field equation approach to a class of boundary value problems exterior to a thin domain. A prototype of this kind of problems is the interaction problem with a thin elastic structure. We are interested in the asymptotic behavior of the solution when the thickness of the elastic structure approaches to zero. In particular, formal asymptotic expansions will be developed, and their rigorous justification will be considered. As will be seen, the construction of these formal expansions hinges on the solutions of a sequence of exterior Dirichlet problems, which can be treated by employing boundary element methods. On the other hand, the justification of the corresponding formal procedure requires an independence on the thickness of the thin domain for the constant in the Korn inequality. It is shown that in spite of the reduction of the dimensionality of the domain under consideration, this class of problems are, in general, not singular perturbation problems, because of appropriate interface conditions.     

Fourier series and integral equation method for the exterior Stokes problem

The exterior Stokes problem between two parallel planes that are separated by a prismatic cylinder is extended to the interior of the prism by requiring the continuity of the velocity across the lateral faces. The well‐posedness of the exterior–interior problem is proved in suitable weighted Sobolev spaces. The solution is represented by Fourier series in the z‐variable. The Fourier coefficients, solutions of auxiliary two‐dimensional exterior–interior problems, are analyzed by viewing them as boundary integral equations of potential theory and global regularity of the densities, is established in weighted Sobolev spaces of traces. A boundary element method, with suitably refined mesh size, is implemented for the numerical treatment of the Fourier coefficients. This provides optimal convergent semi‐ and fully‐discrete spectral methods of Fourier–Galerkin type. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2008     

Nonlinear fourth-order elliptic equations with nonlocal boundary conditions

This paper is concerned with a class of fourth-order nonlinear elliptic equations with nonlocal boundary conditions, including a multi-point boundary condition in a bounded domain of Rn. Also considered is a second-order elliptic equation with nonlocal boundary condition, and the usual multi-point boundary problem in ordinary differential equations. The aim of the paper is to show the existence of maximal and minimal solutions, the uniqueness of a positive solution, and the method of construction for these solutions. Our approach to the above problems is by the method of upper and lower solutions and its associated monotone iterations. The monotone iterative schemes can be developed into computational algorithms for numerical solutions of the problem by either the finite difference method or the finite element method.     

Transcendental Bernstein series for solving reaction–diffusion equations with nonlocal boundary conditions through the optimization technique

In this paper, we apply transcendental Bernstein series (TBS) for solving reaction–diffusion equations with nonlocal boundary conditions which is the novel approximation tool. To carry out the method, we firstly expand the solution of the system in the term of TBS through the operational matrix scheme. To determine the unknown free coefficients and control parameters appeared in TBS expansion, we define an optimization problem which combines the reaction–diffusion equation with its nonlocal boundary conditions. Then we use the Lagrange multipliers technique for converting the problem under study into a system of algebraic equations. High accuracy and simplicity in reducing the integral boundary conditions are some privileges of the proposed scheme. We emphasize that Bernstein polynomials is the particular case of transcendental Bernstein series. Theoretical discussion about convergence confirms the reliability of the proposed method. Some test problems are chosen to investigate the applicability and computational efficiency. The experimental results confirm that the obtained results are in good agreement with the exact solutions with high rate of convergence.     

Reconstruction of boundary regimes in the inverse problem of thermal convection of a high-viscosity fluid

A problem of reconstruction of boundary regimes in a model for free convection of a high-viscosity fluid is considered. A variational method and a quasi-inversion method are suggested for solving the problem in question. The variational method is based on the reduction of the original inverse problem to some equivalent variational minimum problem for an appropriate objective functional and solving this problem by a gradient method. When realizing the gradient method for finding a minimizing element of the objective functional, an iterative process actually reducing the original problem to a series of direct well-posed problems is organized. For the quasi-inversion method, the original differential model is modified by means of introducing special additional differential terms of higher order with small parameters as coefficients. The new perturbed problem is well-posed; this allows one to solve this problem by standard methods. An appropriate choice of small parameters gives an opportunity to obtain acceptable qualitative and quantitative results in solving the inverse problem. A comparison of the methods suggested for solving the inverse problem is made with the use of model examples.