
122 HEAT TRANSFER IN 1D
for which a solution for A(t) and B(t) is guaranteed if the determinant
α2&ι
—
a\b\c
—
a\b2
is not zero. Because the IBVP in question pertains to ID heat transfer, we know that
for many applications a\ = hi,
ct2
=
—«1,
i>i = h^ and 62 = «2» and each of these
constants are non-negative. The determinant is then given by
—/i2^i — h\h2C
—
/11K2
which is zero if both h\ and /12 are zero. This is the case when flux is prescribed at
both boundaries. See Exercise 5.5 for a possible way to overcome this shortcoming.
We will assume that A(t) and B(t) can be determined. What is left to do is solve
the semihomogeneous IBVP for U(x, t) outlined as
IBVP<
U
t
= kU
xx
(x,t)+q*(x,t), 0<x<c (PDE)
U(x,0) = f*(x) (IC)
(5>28)
oi£/(0,
t) + a
2
U
x
(0, t) = 0 (BC1)
61
t/(c, t) + 6
2
C/
X
(c, i) = 0 (BC2)
where q*(x,t) = q(x, t) - A'(t)x- B'(t) and/*(x) = u(x,0)-A(0)x-B(0). The
semihomogeneous IBVP (5.28) is solved using the variation of parameter methods
described in Section 5.2 to determine a series solution for U(x,t). This solution
is used to express the solution u(x,t) to the original IBVP (5.24). Section 5.3.1
provides an example of this solution technique.
5.3.1 Example: Nonhomogeneous Boundary Condition
The example presented in this section pertains to an infinite slab with faces at x = 0
and x = c. The face at x = 0 is insulated, while the temperature T
s
of the
surroundings is maintained at x = c. The resulting IBVP for this situation is
IBVP
<
^'
} = xy
~
X) K
^> (5.29)
Ut
—
ku
xx
(x,t), 0 < x < c
u(x,0)
—
x(l
—
x)
u
x
(0,i}=0
hu(c,t) 4- Ku
x
(c,t)
—
hT
s
(PDE)
(IC)
(BC1)
(BC2)
The positive constant k is the thermal diffusivity, h is the heat exchange coefficient,
and K is a positive constant representing the conductivity of the material. Here,
q(x, t) = 0 and f(x) = x(l - x) in IBVP (5.24).
Using the methods outlined in Section 5.3, we assume a solution u(x, t) of form
u(x, t) = U{x, t) + xA(t) + B(t)
Substituting for u(x,t) in IBVP (5.29) results in the homogeneous IBVP for U as
shown below.