Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs

In summary, the problem is to solve Laplace's equation inside a circular annulus subject to specified boundary conditions, including periodic boundary conditions and Neumann boundary conditions. The attempt at a solution involves using separation of variables to arrive at a general solution and applying Fourier series to solve for the arbitrary constants. However, there is difficulty in correctly applying the Neumann boundary conditions to obtain the necessary equations to solve for the coefficients. Help is needed to obtain these equations.
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Homework Statement



Solve Laplace's equation inside a circular annulus (ring) (a < r < b) subject to the BCs:

[tex]\frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{r}}\left({a,}\theta\right)&={f}\left(\theta\right)[/tex]

[tex]\frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{r}}\left({b,}\theta\right)&={g}\left(\theta\right)[/tex]

Homework Equations



[tex]\nabla^{2}{u}&=0[/tex]

I also believe because of the physics of a ring, we have additional BCs:

[tex]{u}\left({r,-}\pi\right)&={u}\left({r,}\pi\right)[/tex]

[tex]\frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{\theta}}\left({r,-}\pi\right)&=\frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{\theta}}\left({r,}\pi\right)[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



I have used separation of variables to arrive at a general solution:

[tex]{u}\left({r,}\theta\right)&={A}_0+{B}_0\ln{r}+\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}{r}^{n}\left({A}_{n}\cos{n}\theta+{B}_{n}\sin{n}\theta\right)+{r}^{-n}\left({C}_{n}\cos{n}\theta+{D}_{n}\sin{n}\theta\right)[/tex]

This solution takes into account the periodic boundary conditions specified above under "Relevant Equations", but I am struggling to correctly apply the Neumann BCs specified by the problem in order to arrive at equations for the arbitrary constants.

I try to take the partial derivative of u(r,theta) with respect to r and arrive at:

[tex]\frac{\partial{u}}{\partial{r}}&=\frac{{B}_0}{r}+\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}{n}{r}^{n-1}\left({A}_{n}\cos{n}\theta+{B}_{n}\sin{n}\theta\right)-{nr}^{-n-1}\left({C}_{n}\cos{n}\theta+{D}_{n}\sin{n}\theta\right)[/tex]

I don't know how I can apply Fourier series (assuming that is what I'm supposed to do) to solve for each of the coefficients (A,B,C,D).
 
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  • #2
I am aware that I need 4 equations to solve for the 4 coefficients, but I'm not sure how to obtain those equations. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

FAQ: Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs

What is the Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs?

The Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann boundary conditions (BCs) is a partial differential equation that describes the steady-state behavior of a scalar field in a two-dimensional annular region. It is expressed as ∇^2u = 0, where u is the scalar field and ∇^2 is the Laplace operator.

What is an annulus?

An annulus is a mathematical term for the region between two concentric circles in a two-dimensional plane. It is often represented as a ring-shaped region.

What are Neumann BCs?

Neumann boundary conditions are a type of boundary condition that specifies the value of the derivative of a function at the boundary of a region. In the context of the Laplace equation in an annulus, Neumann BCs specify the flux of the scalar field at the boundaries of the annular region.

What is the significance of solving the Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs?

Solving the Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs allows us to determine the steady-state behavior of a scalar field in a ring-shaped region. This can have practical applications in fields such as fluid mechanics, electromagnetics, and heat transfer.

What are some methods for solving the Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs?

Some common methods for solving the Laplace equation in an annulus with Neumann BCs include separation of variables, the method of images, and conformal mapping. These methods use different mathematical techniques to find an analytical or numerical solution to the equation.

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