A variational method applied to a linear hyperbolic initial boundary value problem

Abstract

This paper deals with the application of a variational method to a boundary value problem of the wave equation. Starting with an initial boundary value problem (which is given) introduction of a boundary condition at the final time leads to a boundary value problem with one of the initial conditions redundant. This redundant initial condition is used by the trial function of the direct method (of the Ritz type) which is employed to stationarize the variational principle.