Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 1

BS Mechanical Engineering

Wave Equation in an Infinite Domain: D’Alembert Solution

In this lecturer, the motion of a very long string, that is considered not to have boundaries, has
been handled by using the decomposition method. The physical model that controls the wave
motion of a very long string is governed by a PDE and initial conditions only. As mentioned
before, the method of separation of variables is not applicable in this case.
1. Analysis of Method of D’Alembert
However, a standard method, known as D’Alembert solution, allows us to solve the initial value
problem on an infinite domain. To derive D’Alembert formula, we consider a typical wave
equation in an infinite domain given by
PDE (1)
ICs
As stated in a previous section, the attention will be focused upon the disturbance occurred at the
center of the very long string. The initial displacement and the initial velocity
are prescribed by and respectively.
The D’Alembert’s solution can be obtained by a transformation of variables so that will
become where

⟹
⟹
The new independent variables are substituted into equation Eq. (1) by applying the chain rule

Differentiate again we get

Similarly

Substitute the value of and into Eq. (1) we get

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Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 2
BS Mechanical Engineering

⟹ ⟹

Integrating we get

Hence
where In term of and

From the initial displacement we get the above equation is

(2)
And from the initial velocity we have
(3)
Integrate Eq. (3) w.r.t. we get

Let
(4)

After solving the Eq. (2) and (4) we get

and

Replacing by in and by in , we obtained

and

The final solution is then

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 3
BS Mechanical Engineering

Geometrically, the above solution of the wave equation is an average of two waves traveling in
opposite directions with shapes determined from the initial displacement.

2. Applications of Method of D’Alembert

After completes the formal derivation of D’Alembert solution. To explain D’Alembert’s

formula, we consider the following examples.
Example 1: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 4
BS Mechanical Engineering

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 2: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 5
BS Mechanical Engineering

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 3: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 6
BS Mechanical Engineering

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 4: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 5: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem

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HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 7
BS Mechanical Engineering

(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 6: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 8
BS Mechanical Engineering

and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 7: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 9
BS Mechanical Engineering

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Example 8: Use the D’Alembert formula to solve the initial value problem
(1)
(2)
Form Eq. (1-2) we identify that
and
Therefore we have

According to the D’Alembert principle the solution of Eq. (1) given as

(3)

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HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman
 Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) 10
BS Mechanical Engineering

Substituting the values of and into Eq. (3) we obtained

⟹ (4)
Verification:
Since Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2) if it satisfies hole system (PDE and ICs) therefore
differentiate Eq. (4) twice w.r.t and twice w.r.t we get
(5)
and (6)
From Eq. (5-6), we observe that

Now for ICs, at Eq. (4) we have

and at the expression we have

This implies that Eq. (4) is the solution of Eq. (1-2).

Department of Mathematics Proposed by

HITEC University Taxila Cantt, Prof. Dr. Syed Tauseef Mohyud-Din
Pakistan & Muhammad Usman