DAlemberts Solution

There is an elegant approach to solve the wave equation by

introducing new variables:
v x ct , z x ct , u ( x , t ) u (v , z )

The use of these variables is because that the solution of the

wave equation behaves in specific fashion that its spatial
movement is related to the temporal variation through the
constant c.
Using these new variables, the derivative w.r.t x & t can be
rewritten as
u u v u z u ( x ct ) u ( x ct ) u u

x v x z x v
x
z
x
v z
u
u
u
Label ux = , uv , uz , etc
x
v
z

Similarly,
u u v u z u
u
u u

( c) ( c ) c[ ]
t v t z t v
z
v z
Continue to convert all derivatives in x & t into derivatives
in v & z, the wave equation to obtain the following equation:
2u
u
0, this equation can be integrated twice
zv z v
u
f (v ),
v
u (v, z ) f (v )dv ( z ) ( v ) ( z )

u ( x, y ) ( x ct ) ( x ct ) : D'Alembert's solution

If given the initial conditions:

u
u( x, t 0) f ( x ),
( x, t 0) g ( x )
t
Determine the D'Alembert's solution:
u( x,0) ( x ct ) ( x ct ) ( x ) ( x ) f ( x )
u

v
z
( x, t ) [ ( x ct )] [ ( x ct )]
t
v
t z
t
c ( x ct ) c ( x ct )
u
( x, t 0) c[ ( x ) ( x )] g ( x )
t
1
1 x ct
u( x, t ) [ f ( x ct ) f ( x ct )] g ( s )ds
2
2c x ct
See textbook, chapter 11.4 for detailed derivation

Example
Determine the solution of the wave equation in d'Alembert form
2u 2u
2 , for 0 x , t 0,
2
t
x
u
u ( x,0) f ( x ) sin(2 x ), ( x,0) g ( x ) sin( x )
t
1

f ( x)
g ( x)

0
0

2
x

From the wave equation, c=1

D'Alembert's solution:
1
1 x ct
u ( x, t ) [ f ( x ct ) f ( x ct )] g ( s )ds
2
2c x ct
f ( x ct ) f ( x t ) sin(2 x 2t )
f ( x t ) sin(2 x 2t )

x ct
x ct

g ( s )ds

x t
x t

x t

sin( s )ds cos( s ) x t cos( x t ) cos( x t )

1
1
u ( x, t ) [sin(2 x 2t ) sin(2 x 2t )] cos( x t ) cos( x t )
2
2
A very simple form of solution, image how difficult it will be
if one uses the separation of variables and Fourier series solution
to solve this equation.

1.051

It appears to have a wave

moving to the right

1.5

1
u ( x 0)
u ( x 0.1)

0.5

u ( x 0.3)
u ( x 0.5)

0.5

0
0

2
x

u ( x 1.6)

u ( x 1.8)
u ( x 2.0)

It appears to have a wave

moving to the left

u ( x 2.2)

2
x

Wave Propagation
It is much easier to identify the wave propagation characteristics of the
solution of the wave equation by examining an initial disturbance confined
within a finite area and trace its development in time. Examine the
9 x 2 ,if 3 x 3
solution when c 1, u( x,0) f ( x )
0 ,Otherwise
u
( x,0) g ( x ) 0
t
1
u( x, t ) ( f ( x t ) f ( x t ))
2
As shown, the initiail disturbance can
be interpreted as a pressure spike,
a wave crest, a temperature surge, etc..

10

f ( x)

Initial condition

10

0
x

10

When t>0, the disturbance splits into two parts, one propagating
To the right while the other propagating to the left, as shown
below.

10

u ( x 0)

Propagate to the right

Propagate to the left

u ( x 1.2)
u ( x 2)

u ( x 8)
u ( x 12)

15
15

10

0
x

10

15
15

Characteristic Lines
2
2u
u
2 u
c
, u( x,0) f ( x ), ( x,0) g ( x )
2
2
t
x
t
Assume g ( x ) 0 for simplicity

1
D'Alembert's solution: u( x, t ) [ f ( x ct ) f ( x ct )]
2
Specify x ct , x ct therefore
f ( x ct ) remains the same as long as x ct remains a constant.
t
x+ct=constant
f(x+ct)=const
Slope -c

x-ct=constant
f(x-ct)=const
Slope c
x

Physical Interpretation
Speed of sound
x
cO
t

x=3cOt

x=cOt
x=2cOt

Nonhomogeneous Wave Equation

Sometime we have deal with nonhomogeneous form of the wave equation.
For example, when the string or beam is under an external excitation, varying
both in space and time: F ( x, t )
2
2u
2 u
The nonhomogeneous wave equation: 2 c
F ( x, t )
2
t
x
u
with the initial conditions of :u( x,0) f ( x ), ( x, 0) g ( x )
t
It can be shown that (not here), the general solution if of the form
1
1 x ct
1
u( x, t ) [ f ( x ct ) f ( x ct )] g ( s )ds F ( s, )dsd
2
2c x ct
2c
is the characteristic triangle, a region in the x,t plane bounded
by the two characteristic lines and the initial time line.