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Consider the initial boundary value problem

$u_{tt}=c^{2}u_{xx} \ \ \ \ 0<x< \infty \ \ , \ t \geq 0 \\ u(x,0)=f(x)\\ u_{t}(x,0)=g(x)\\ u_{x}(0,t)+hu(0,t)=0 \ \ \text{where h is a constant}$

My attempt

For $x > ct$, we have the d'Alembert solution. $u(x,t) = \frac{1}{2} [f(x + ct) + f(x−ct)] + \frac{1}{2c} \int_{x-ct}^{x+ct}g(s)ds \ \ \ \ (1)$

For $x < ct$

I rewrote the boundary condition as $u_{x}(0,t)=p(t)$ where $p(t)=-hu(0,t)$. Differentiated $(1)$ w.r.t $x$ and applied the boundary condition. After some calculations I got the solution as,

$u(x,t) = \frac{1}{2} [f(x + ct) + f(x−ct)] + \frac{1}{2c} [\int_{0}^{x+ct}g(s)ds + \int_{0}^{ct-x} g(s)ds]-c \int_{0}^{t-\frac{x}{c}} p(s)ds \ \ \ \ (2)$

It is similar to the case when we have non homogenous boundary condition. But here it involves $u(0,t)$, I feel the solution may be wrong. Sorry, I could not include the steps, I want to know whether I am on the right path or not.

Shiv-ani
  • 119

1 Answers1

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It is well known that the general solution to the one-dimensional wave equation $u_{tt}=c^2u_{xx}$ is$^{(*)}$ $$ u(x,t)=F(x-ct)+G(x+ct), \tag{1} $$ where $F(\cdot)$ and $G(\cdot)$ are functions determined by the initial and boundary conditions. Let's start with the former: $$ u(x,0)=f(x) \implies F(x)+G(x)=f(x), \tag{2} $$ \begin{align} u_t(x,0)=g(x) &\implies -cF'(x)+cG'(x)=g(x) \\ &\implies -F(x)+G(x)=a+\frac{1}{c}\int_0^xg(s)\,ds. \tag{3} \end{align} Equations $(2)$ and $(3)$ imply \begin{align} F(x)&=\frac{1}{2}\left[f(x)-a-\frac{1}{c}\int_0^xg(s)\,ds\right], \tag{4} \\ G(x)&=\frac{1}{2}\left[f(x)+a+\frac{1}{c}\int_0^xg(s)\,ds\right], \tag{5} \end{align} which, when plugged into $(1)$, yield d'Alembert's formula: $$ u(x,t)=\frac{1}{2}\left[f(x-ct)+f(x+ct)\right]+\frac{1}{2c}\int_{x-ct}^{x+ct}g(s)\,ds. \tag{6} $$ However, $(6)$ is valid only for $x>ct$, as the argument of $F(\cdot)$ and $G(\cdot)$ in Eqs. $(2)$ and $(3)$, from which $(4)$ and $(5)$ are derived, is assumed to be a positive number. It is also worth to notice that the arbitrary constant $a$ in Eqs. $(4)$ and $(5)$ cancels out when $F(x-ct)$ and $G(x+ct)$ are added together to form $u(x,t)$.

Let's now consider the boundary condition $u_x(0,t)+hu(0,t)=0$. It implies $$ F'(-ct)+G'(ct)+h[F(-ct)+G(ct)]=0, \tag{7} $$ or $$ F'(\xi)+hF(\xi)=-[G'(-\xi)+hG(-\xi)]=:\phi(\xi), \tag{8} $$ where $\xi\leq 0$. Since $-\xi\geq 0$, we are allowed to use $(5)$ to compute $\phi(\xi)$. Then, solving the differential equation $(8)$, we obtain an expression for $F(\cdot)$ that is valid when its argument is nonpositive: $$ F(\xi)=e^{-h\xi}\left[b+\int_0^{\xi} e^{hs}\phi(s)\,ds\right] \qquad(\xi\leq 0). \tag{9} $$ To determine the constant of integration $b$, we require that $F(x-ct)$ be continuous at $x=ct$: $$ F(0^+)=F(0^-) \implies \frac{1}{2}[f(0)-a]=b. \tag{10} $$ Therefore, the solution to the wave equation valid for $0<x<ct$ is given by \begin{align} u(x,t)&=e^{-h(x-ct)}\left\{\frac{1}{2}[f(0)-a]+\int_0^{x-ct}e^{hs}\phi(s)\,ds\right\} \\ &\phantom{=}+\frac{1}{2}[f(x+ct)+a]+\frac{1}{2c}\int_0^{x+ct}g(s)\,ds. \tag{11} \end{align} As a final remark, we notice that, despite appearances, $(11)$ does not depend on the arbitrary constant $a$. Indeed, it follows from $(8)$ and $(5)$ that $\phi(s)$ has a single term dependent on $a$, of the form $-\frac{1}{2}ha$. Therefore, if we denote by $u_a(x,t)$ the part of $u(x,t)$ that depends on $a$, we have \begin{align} u_a(x,t)&=e^{-h(x-ct)}\left[-\frac{a}{2}-\frac{ha}{2}\int_0^{x-ct}e^{hs}\,ds\right]+\frac{a}{2} \\ &=-\frac{a}{2}e^{-h(x-ct)}\left[1+e^{h(x-ct)}-1\right]+\frac{a}{2}=0. \tag{12} \end{align}


$^{(*)}$ See, for instance, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_equation.hu(0,t)=0

Gonçalo
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