Partial Differential Equations PDEs in Semi-infinite Domains

1 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) in Semi-infinite Domains 

Transient heat conduction or mass transfer in solids with constant physical properties (diffusion coefficient, thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, etc.) is usually represented by a parabolic partial differential equation. For steady state heat or mass transfer in solids, potential distribution in electrochemical cells is usually represented by elliptic partial differential equations. In this chapter, we describe how one can arrive at the analytical solutions for linear parabolic partial differential equations and elliptic partial differential equations in semi-infinite domains using the Laplace transform technique, a similarity solution technique and Maple. In addition, we describe how numerical similarity solutions can be obtained for nonlinear partial differential equations in semi-infinite domains. 

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