Scribd
Upload
304 views11 pages

D'Alembert's Solution

D'Alembert's solution provides an elegant approach to solve the wave equation by introducing new variables that relate the spatial and temporal variations. Using these new variables, the wave equation can be transformed into an equation that can be integrated twice to obtain D'Alembert's solution. This solution expresses the dependent variable as the sum of two terms - one propagating to the right and one to the left.

Uploaded by

Seb Val
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
304 views11 pages

D'Alembert's Solution

D'Alembert's solution provides an elegant approach to solve the wave equation by introducing new variables that relate the spatial and temporal variations. Using these new variables, the wave equation can be transformed into an equation that can be integrated twice to obtain D'Alembert's solution. This solution expresses the dependent variable as the sum of two terms - one propagating to the right and one to the left.

Uploaded by

Seb Val
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

DAlemberts Solution

There is an elegant approach to solve the wave equation by


introducing new variables:
{ }
, , ( , ) ( , )
The use of these variables is because that the solution of the
wave equation behaves in specific fashion that its spatial
movement is related to the temporal variation throu
v x ct z x ct u x t u v z = + = =
gh the
constant .
Using these new variables, the derivative w.r.t x & t can be
rewritten as
( ) ( )
Label = , , ,
x v z
c
u u v u z u x ct u x ct u u
x v x z x v x z x v z
u u u
u u u etc
x v z
c c c c c c c + c c c c
= + = + = +
c c c c c c c c c c c
c c c
= =
c c c
2
Similarly,
u u u u u u u
( ) ( ) [ ]
t t t
Continue to convert all derivatives in x & t into derivatives
in & , the wave equation to obtain the following equation:
v z
c c c
v z v z v z
v z
u u
z v z v
c c c c c c c c c
= + = + =
c c c c c c c c c
c c c
=
c c c c
0, this equation can be integrated twice
( ),
( , ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( , ) ( ) ( ) : D'Alembert's solution
u
f v
v
u v z f v dv z v z
u x y x ct x ct
|
|
| |
=
|
\ .
c
=
c
= + = +
= + +
}
If given the initial conditions:
( , 0) ( ), ( , 0) ( )
Determine the D'Alembert's solution:
( , 0) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( , ) [ ( )] [ ( )]
( ) ( )
u
u x t f x x t g x
t
u x x ct x ct x x f x
u v z
x t x ct x ct
t v t z t
c x ct c x ct
| |
|
|
c
= = = =
c
= + + = + =
c c c c c
= + +
c c c c c
' '
= +
c
( , 0) [ ( ) ( )] ( )
1 1
( , ) [ ( ) ( )] ( )
2 2
See textbook, chapter 11.4 for detailed derivation
x ct
x ct
u
x t c x x g x
t
u x t f x ct f x ct g s ds
c
|
+

' '
= = =
c
= + + +
}
Example
2 2
2 2
Determine the solution of the wave equation in d'Alembert form
, for 0 , 0,
( , 0) ( ) sin(2 ), ( , 0) ( ) sin( )
u u
x t
t x
u
u x f x x x g x x
t
t
c c
= < < >
c c
c
= = = =
c
0 1 2 3
1
0
1
1
1
f x ( )
g x ( )
t 0 x
From the wave equation, =1
D'Alembert's solution:
1 1
( , ) [ ( ) ( )] ( )
2 2
( ) ( ) sin(2 2 )
( ) sin(2 2 )
( ) sin( ) cos( ) cos( ) cos( )
x ct
x ct
x ct x t
x t
x t
x ct x t
c
u x t f x ct f x ct g s ds
c
f x ct f x t x t
f x t x t
g s ds s ds s x t x t
u
+

+ +
+


= + + +
+ = + = +
=
= = = +
}
} }
| |
1 1
( , ) [sin(2 2 ) sin(2 2 )] cos( ) cos( )
2 2
A very simple form of solution, image how difficult it will be
if one uses the separation of variables and Fourier series solution
to solve this equa
x t x t x t x t x t = + + + +
tion.
0 1 2 3
1
0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
1.051
1
u x 0 , ( )
u x 0.1 , ( )
u x 0.3 , ( )
u x 0.5 , ( )
t 0 x
0 1 2 3
1
0
1
2
u x 1.6 , ( )
u x 1.8 , ( )
u x 2.0 , ( )
u x 2.2 , ( )
x
It appears to have a wave
moving to the right
It appears to have a wave
moving to the left
Wave Propagation
It is much easier to identify the wave propagation characteristics of the
solution of the wave equation by examining an initial disturbance confined
within a finite area and trace its development in tim
2
e. Examine the
9 ,if 3 3
solution when 1, ( , 0) ( )
0 ,Otherwise
( , 0) ( ) 0
1
( , ) ( ( ) ( ))
2
As shown, the initiail disturbance can
be interpreted as a pressure spike,
a wave cre
x x
c u x f x
u
x g x
t
u x t f x t f x t
s s
= = =

c
= =
c
= + +
st, a temperature surge, etc..
10 0 10
0
5
10
f x ( )
x
Initial condition
15 10 5 0 5 10 15
0
5
10
9
0
u x 0 , ( )
u x 1.2 , ( )
u x 2 , ( )
u x 8 , ( )
u x 12 , ( )
15 15 x
Propagate to the right
Propagate to the left
When t>0, the disturbance splits into two parts, one propagating
To the right while the other propagating to the left, as shown
below.

Characteristic Lines
2 2
2
2 2
, ( , 0) ( ), ( , 0) ( )
Assume ( ) 0 for simplicity
1
D'Alembert's solution: ( , ) [ ( ) ( )]
2
Specify , therefore
( ) remains the same as long as remains
u u u
c u x f x x g x
t x t
g x
u x t f x ct f x ct
x ct x ct
f x ct x ct
q

c c c
= = =
c c c
=
= + +
= + =
+ = + a constant.
x+ct=constant
f(x+ct)=const
Slope -c
x-ct=constant
f(x-ct)=const
Slope c
x
t
Physical Interpretation
x
Ax=c
O
At
2Ax=2c
O
At
3Ax=3c
O
At
Speed of sound
O
x
c
t
A
=
A
Nonhomogeneous Wave Equation
Sometime we have deal with nonhomogeneous form of the wave equation.
For example, when the string or beam is under an external excitation, varying
both in space and time: ( , )
The nonhomogeneous wave e
F x t
2 2
2
2 2
quation: ( , )
with the initial conditions of : ( , 0) ( ), ( , 0) ( )
It can be shown that (not here), the general solution if of the form
1 1
( , ) [ ( ) ( )] ( )
2 2
x ct
x ct
u u
c F x t
t x
u
u x f x x g x
t
u x t f x ct f x ct g s ds
c
+

c c
= +
c c
c
= =
c
= + + +
1
( , )
2
is the characteristic triangle, a region in the x,t plane bounded
by the two characteristic lines and the initial time line.
F s dsd
c
t t
A
+
A
} }}

You might also like