
156 HEAT TRANSFER IN 2D AND 3D
6.4.3 Neumann Problems
Consider the BVP shown in Figure 6.9, where the given PDE is Laplace's equation and
the nonhomogeneous boundary conditions are Neumann. The boundary conditions
on the x
—
0 and y = 0 faces include a minus sign on the derivative. The heat flux in
the direction of the outward pointing normal to the surface is given by — Vu
·
n, where
n in the outward-pointing normal. Our convention for prescribing boundary fluxes
will be that a positive gi signifies a positive inward flux (i.e., a negative outward
flux). Now, at y = 0, — Vu · n = u
y
. However, a positive u
y
implies flow out of
the element, so the minus sign is included to assure a positive
Q\
results in an energy
flux into the element. Similar arguments apply to the face at x = 0. At y = d (the
top face) —Vu · n = — u
y
. For a positive gs to imply flux into the element, we write
Uy =93, and similarly for x
—
c.
W
y
(x,d)
=93(x)
-W
x
(0,y) = g
A
(y)
V
2
W(x,y)
= 0
-W
y
(x,0)=
9l
(x)
W
x
(c,y)
=g
2
(y)
Figure 6.9 Two-dimensional Laplace BVP with Neumann BCs.
The solution process for the Neumann BVP based on Laplace's equation is similar
to the methods outlined in Section 6.4.1 on Laplace Dirichlet problems. There are
some differences, however. The first is that the solution to the Neumann problem is
not unique (see Exercise
6.1
).
The second distinction involves a solvability condition
on the boundary functions
#¿.
This condition is more easily understood in the context
of the solution process, so it will be explained at the appropriate time.
The process for solving
a
Neumann BVP includes partitioning the original problem
into one or more subproblems. The first subproblem to consider is that shown in
Figure 6.10. The function W
2
is assumed to have the form
W
2
(x,y)
= X(x)Y(y)
-X
For W
2
to satisfy Laplace's equation it must be that
X"{x)
=
Y"{y)
X(x) Y(y)
The resulting Sturm-Liouville problem for Y(y) is
Y"(y) + a
2
Y(y) = 0 y'(0) = 0 and Y'(d) = 0
(6.69)
(6.70)
(6.71)