Symmetry reduction and numerical solution of a nonlinear boundary value problem in fluid mechanics

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the applications of Lie symmetry method on the boundary value problem (BVP) for nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) in fluid mechanics. Design/methodology/approach The authors solved a BVP for nonlinear PDEs in fluid mechanics based on the effective combination of the symmetry, homotopy perturbation and Runge–Kutta methods. Findings First, the multi-parameter symmetry of the given BVP for nonlinear PDEs is determined based on differential characteristic set algorithm. Second, BVP for nonlinear PDEs is reduced to an initial value problem of the original differential equation by using the symmetry method. Finally, the approximate and numerical solutions of the initial value problem of the original differential equations are obtained using the homotopy perturbation and Runge–Kutta methods, respectively. By comparing the numerical solutions with the approximate solutions, the study verified that the approximate solutions converge to the numerical solutions. Originality/value The application of the Lie symmetry method in the BVP for nonlinear PDEs in fluid mechanics is an excellent and new topic for further research. In this paper, the authors solved BVP for nonlinear PDEs by using the Lie symmetry method. The study considered that the boundary conditions are the arbitrary functions Bi(x)(i = 1,2,3,4), which are determined according to the invariance of the boundary conditions under a multi-parameter Lie group of transformations. It is different from others’ research. In addition, this investigation will also effectively popularize the range of application and advance the efficiency of the Lie symmetry method.