Practical finite‐analytic method for solving differential equations by compact numerical schemes

Abstract

AbstractMethodology for development of compact numerical schemes by the practical finite‐analytic method (PFAM) is presented for spatial and/or temporal solution of differential equations. The advantage and accuracy of this approach over the conventional numerical methods are demonstrated. In contrast to the tedious discretization schemes resulting from the original finite‐analytic solution methods, such as based on the separation of variables and Laplace transformation, the practical finite‐analytical method is proven to yield simple and convenient discretization schemes. This is accomplished by a special universal determinant construction procedure using the general multi‐variate power series solutions obtained directly from differential equations. This method allows for direct incorporation of the boundary conditions into the numerical discretization scheme in a consistent manner without requiring the use of artificial fixing methods and fictitious points, and yields effective numerical schemes which are operationally similar to the finite‐difference schemes. Consequently, the methods developed for numerical solution of the algebraic equations resulting from the finite‐difference schemes can be readily facilitated. Several applications are presented demonstrating the effect of the computational molecule, grid spacing, and boundary condition treatment on the numerical accuracy. The quality of the numerical solutions generated by the PFAM is shown to approach to the exact analytical solution at optimum grid spacing. It is concluded that the PFAM offers great potential for development of robust numerical schemes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2009