Lecture 20 (Spring 17)

Thursday, April 20, 2017 11:30 AM

Applying initial conditions using Fourier Series (Ch. 12.2 + 12.3)

Fourier series are infinite series designed to represent general periodic functions in terms of simple ones, i.e.
cosine and sine. Fourier series are similar to the familiar Taylor series (power series), but are more universal,
because some discontinuous periodic functions can be expanded into a Fourier series, but not into a Taylor
series.

A function f(x) is called periodic with the period p if

f(x + p) = f(x) for all x (with some exceptions).

The function tan x is periodic, but is not defined for all x, e.g.

If f(x) has the period p then it also has the period 2p, 3p, ... np.

f(x + np) = f(x) for all x.

Proof: f([x + p] + p) = f(x + p) = f(x).

Furthermore, if f(x) and g(x) have the same period p, then af(x) + bf(x) with any constants a and b has the
same period p.

A periodic function with period p = 2L can be expressed in an infinite series consisting of 'simple' periodic
functions with the same period. The series with the period p = 2π is called trigonometric series (similar to
power series) and is given as

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If we expand a periodic function f(x) into a trigonometric series we call this the Fourier Series of f(x). For an
arbitrary period p = 2L the Fourier series is given as

where the Fourier coefficients and are given by the Euler Formulas:

Even and odd functions

If f(x) is an even function, i.e. f(-x) = f(x), then its Fourier series reduces to the Fourier cosine series.

If f(x) is an odd function, i.e. f(-x) = -f(x), then its Fourier series reduces to the Fourier sine series.

From introductory example:

We obtained the general solution

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But we still need to apply the initial conditions

We can expand into its Fourier series (sine only)

Compare coefficients and find and find the same answer as before:

Example: Unsteady 1D conduction with ‘simple’ initial conditions

Now, solve in nondimensional form

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Substitute into PDE

Solve by separation of variables

Substitute into PDE

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Separate into 2 ODEs

Apply boundary conditions

General solution

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We have shown that

Alternative Initial Condition

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