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Lab 10

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15 views2 pages

Lab 10

Uploaded by

ch22b030
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Problem Statement

Consider the one-dimensional heat equation:

∂T ∂2T
= = 0,
∂t ∂x2

t = 0, 0 < x < 1, T = 0,

t > 0, x = 0, T = 1,

t > 0, x = 1, T = 1.

Our objective is to determine the temperature distribution T (x, t) over time


and space and to plot T (x) at specific time points: t = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and
5.

Theory
The heat equation is a fundamental partial differential equation (PDE) in physics
and engineering that models the diffusion of heat (or other diffusive substances)
over time. In one spatial dimension, the heat equation can be expressed as:

∂T ∂2T
= ,
∂t ∂x2
where T (x, t) represents the temperature at a given location x and time t.
This equation assumes that heat flows according to Fourier’s law, where the rate
of heat transfer is proportional to the negative gradient of the temperature.
Boundary and Initial Conditions To fully determine a solution for a PDE,
we need appropriate boundary and initial conditions. In this problem:
- **Initial Condition**: At time t = 0, the temperature T (x, 0) = 0 for all
0 < x < 1, meaning that the medium starts uniformly at zero temperature.
- **Boundary Conditions**: For all t > 0: - At x = 0, T (0, t) = 1. - At
x = 1, T (1, t) = 1.
These conditions impose a fixed temperature of 1 at both ends of the domain,
suggesting that heat is being applied consistently at both boundaries.
Steady-State Solution In many cases, the heat equation reaches a steady-
state solution where the temperature distribution no longer changes with time,
implying that ∂T ∂t = 0. In this case, the heat equation simplifies to:

∂2T
= 0.
∂x2
Solving this ordinary differential equation yields a linear temperature profile.
Given the boundary conditions, the steady-state solution is found to be:

T (x) = 1.

1
Time-Dependent Solution The time-dependent solution of the heat equation
reveals how the temperature distribution evolves from the initial condition to
the steady-state solution. Initially, at t = 0, the temperature T (x, 0) = 0
throughout the domain except at the boundaries, where it is set to 1. As time
progresses, the heat diffuses from the boundaries towards the center until the
entire region reaches the steady-state temperature of T (x) = 1.
Numerical Approach While analytical solutions can provide exact answers for
certain configurations, numerical methods such as the finite difference method
(FDM) are often employed to approximate solutions over time. This approach
involves discretizing both the spatial and temporal domains into a grid, applying
finite difference approximations for derivatives, and iteratively updating the
temperature values at each grid point over small time steps. Numerical solutions
are particularly valuable for tracking the transient phase of the solution as it
progresses toward the steady-state.

Conclusion
The heat equation, with the given boundary and initial conditions, models the
diffusion of heat in a one-dimensional domain. The solution initially exhibits
a time-dependent behavior, where the temperature profile gradually increases
until it converges to the steady-state distribution. Understanding both the
analytical and numerical solutions of this PDE provides valuable insights into
the behavior of heat conduction in various applications.

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