Method of particular solutions for linear,two-point boundary-value problems

The methods commonly employed for solving linear, two-point boundary-value problems require the use of two sets of differential equations: the original set and the derived set. This derived set is the adjoint set if the method of adjoint equations is used, the Green's functions set if the method of Green's functions is used, and the homogeneous set if the method of complementary functions is used.With particular regard to high-speed digital computing operations, this paper explores an alternate method, the method of particular solutions, in which only the original, nonhomogeneous set is used. A general theory is presented for a linear differential system ofnth order. The boundary-value problem is solved by combining linearly several particular solutions of the original, nonhomogeneous set. Both the case of an uncontrolled system and the case of a controlled system are considered.This research, supported by the NASA-Manned Spacecraft Center, Grant No. NGR-44-006-089, is a condensed version of the investigations described in Refs. 1 and 2.