Separation of Variables Method for Partial Differential Equations PDEs in Finite Domains

1 Separation of Variables Method for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) in Finite 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 linear parabolic partial differential equation. 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 finite domains using a separation of variables method. The methodology is illustrated using a transient one dimensional heat conduction in a rectangle. 

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