Final

Instructions:

• This is an open book exam. Any notes from this class are allowed.
• All problems are worth the same number of points. Attempt as many as you can, bearing in mind
that fully and correctly completed problems will be awarded extra credit.
• Read all the problems first before beginning to answer any of them. Start with the one you feel most
comfortable with, and only move on to the next problem when you are certain you have completed
it perfectly.

• Calculators are allowed but shouldn’t be necessary.

• MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS ON THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR ANSWERS, AND YOUR
INITIALS ON ALL OTHER PAGES
• The instructor reserves the right not to grade any illegible answers.
• Note: solving 3 problems completely and correctly will garantee an A+ .
• RELAX, AND GOOD LUCK!

1
Problem 1: This problem is aimed at studying the response of the Golden Gate bridge to wind forcing.
Let us model the bridge as a one-dimensional “elastic” object of length L, attached to the land at two
fixed points A and B, and call x the distance along the bridge from its southernmost point. Only lateral
motions are allowed (y-direction). The equation of motion of any point on the bridge is therefore given
by the equation

utt − c2 uxx = W (x, t)

u(0, t) = u(L, t) = 0

where W (x, t) is a function describing the wind forcing term. We assume that the wind blows into the
Bay with a velocity that varies both along the bridge and with time:

W (x, t) = x(L − x) sin2 (ωt) (1)

Finally, we assume that at time t = 0 the bridge is at rest and in its equilibrium position:

u(x, 0) = 0
ut (x, 0) = 0

• Calculate the spatial eigenmodes of the homogeneous wave equation satisfying the same boundary
conditions, and deduce that the solution of the forced problem can be written as
∞
X
u(x, t) = fn (t) sin(kn x) (2)
n

where you must determine kn explicitly,

• Show that the functions fn (t) satisfy the ODEs

fn00 + c2 kn2 fn = αn sin2 (ωt) (3)

where
4L2
αn = (1 − cos(nπ)) (4)
n3 π 3
• How do the initial conditions for u(x, t) relate to fn (0) and fn0 (0)?
• Deduce that
fn (t) = an (t) + bn + dn cos(2ωt) (5)
where you must determine the function an (t), and the constants bn and dn . (Hint: use the identity
sin2 x = (1 − cos(2x))/2).
• Write the complete solution u(x, t)

2
Problem 2: This problem is aimed at finding the equilibrium temperature profile within a spherical
cavity. We consider a region bounded by two concentric spheres of radius a and b respectively (with
a < b). We use a spherical coordinate system (r, θ, φ). The temperature on the inner sphere is held at a
constant value T0
T (a, θ, φ) = T0 (6)
while the temperature on the outer sphere is

T (b, θ, φ) = T1 + T2 cos(θ) (7)

The steady-state temperature profile is obtained by solving

∂2T
   
1 ∂ 2 ∂T 1 ∂ ∂T 1
r + sin θ + =0 (8)
r2 ∂r ∂r r2 sin θ ∂θ ∂θ r2 sin2 θ ∂φ2
subject to the boundary conditions required.

• Verify that the functions v0 (θ) = 1 and v1 (θ) = cos θ are eigen-solutions of the equation
 
1 d dvi
sin θ = −λi vi (9)
sin θ dθ dθ

and find the corresponding eigenvalues λ0 and λ1 .

• Give a solid argument why the solution to the problem can be written as

T (r, θ, φ) = f0 (r) + f1 (r) cos θ (10)

where f0 (r) and f1 (r) satisfy (for i = 0 or i = 1)

 
1 d 2 dfi λi
2
r − 2 fi = 0 (11)
r dr dr r

• Solve the equations for f0 (r) and f1 (r) and identify the arbitrary constants that will need to be
determined from the boundary conditions. (Hint: seek solutions in rα ).
• By applying the boundary conditions, find T (r, θ, φ).

3
Problem 3: Solve the problem

utt − 4uxx = ex + sin t, −∞ < x < ∞, t > 0

u(x, 0) = 0, −∞ < x < ∞
1
ut (x, 0) = , −∞ < x < ∞
1 + x2

Problem 4: To solve the problem

uxx + (1 + y 2 )2 uyy + 2y(1 + y 2 )uy = 0

u(x, 0) = x
uy (x, 0) = −2x

• Show that this equation is equivalent to Laplace’s equation in a different coordinate system (ξ, η).
• Find the general solution. Hint: the boundary conditions suggest that you try a bilinear form in
(ξ, η) as a solution of the Laplace equation.