396 Chapter 6
Two Dimensions, Rectangular Coordinates
We seek the temperature distribution in thin plates over the two-dimensional domain
D ={(x, y) |0 <x<1, 0 <y<1} whose lateral surfaces are insulated. The two-dimensional
homogeneous partial differential equation in rectangular coordinates reads
∂
∂t
u(x, y, t) = k
∂
2
∂x
2
u(x, y, t) +
∂
2
∂y
2
u(x, y, t)
For Exercises 6.1 through 6.25, the initial condition u(x, y, 0) = f(x, y) and the boundary
conditions are given. You are asked to evaluate the eigenvalues and corresponding
two-dimensional orthonormal eigenfunctions and write the general solution. Generate the
animated three-dimensional surface solution u(x, y, t), and plot the animated sequence for
0 <t<5.
6.1. Boundaries x = 0,x= 1, y = 0,y= 1 are held at fixed temperature 0,k= 1/10:
u(0,y,t)= 0 and u(1,y,t)= 0
u(x, 0,t)= 0 and u(x, 1,t)= 0
Initial condition:
f(x, y) = x(1 −x) y(1 −y)
6.2. Boundaries x = 0,x= 2, y = 0 are held at fixed temperature 0, and boundary y = 1is
insulated, k = 1/10:
u(0,y,t)= 0 and u(2,y,t)= 0
u(x, 0,t)= 0 and u
y
(x, 1,t)= 0
Initial condition:
f(x, y) = x(2 −x)y
1 −
y
2
6.3. Boundaries x = 1,y= 0,y = 2 are held at fixed temperature 0, boundary x = 0is
insulated, k = 1/10:
u
x
(0,y,t)= 0 and u(1,y,t)= 0
u(x, 0,t)= 0 and u(x, 2,t)= 0
Initial condition:
f(x, y) = (1 −x
2
)y(2 −y)