Solution of Partial Differential Equations by Laplace Transform
The Laplace Transform is a powerful integral transform used to convert partial differential equations (PDEs) into algebraic equations, which are often easier to solve. This method is particularly useful for solving linear PDEs with constant coefficients and specific boundary conditions. While the Laplace Transform method is not a numerical methods we have decided to included it in this because of its similarity to method of lines.
1. Definition of the Laplace Transform
The Laplace Transform of a function f(t) is defined as:
where s is a complex number frequency parameter.
2. Applying the Laplace Transform to PDEs
To solve a PDE using the Laplace Transform, we follow these steps:
- Take the Laplace Transform of both sides of the PDE with respect to time variable t.
- Solve the resulting algebraic equation in the Laplace domain.
- Apply the inverse Laplace Transform to obtain the solution in the time domain.
3. Example: Solving the Heat Equation
Consider the one-dimensional heat equation:
with initial condition u(x,0) = \sin(\pi x) and boundary conditions u(0,t) = u(1,t) = 0.
Solution Steps:
Step 1: Take the Laplace Transform
Step 2: Transform the boundary conditions
Step 3: Solve the Ordinary Differential Equation
Rearranging gives:
Homogeneous solution and particular solution methods can be applied here.
Complementary Solution:
Particular Solution: We assume U_p(x) = A\sin(\pi x) + B\cos(\pi x)
by substitution in the equation we have
it follows that B = 0 and A = 1/(s + \pi^2\alpha)
General Solution is thus:,
Step 4: Applying the boundary conditions:
- at x = 0:
- at x = 1:
hence,
Step 5: Apply the inverse Laplace Transform to find u(x,t)
Example 1C#

Numerical Inversion Laplace Transform : Dimensionless Water Influx Estimation
Water influx in an oil reservoir is the migration of water from an aquifer into the pore spaces of the reservoir rock containing oil. This water movement is primarily driven by pressure differences between the aquifer and the reservoir as the oil is produced and reservoir pressure declines. The water influx can provide pressure support, helping to maintain reservoir pressure and sustain oil production. Hence, understanding and accurate estimation of water influx is crucial for optimizing oil recovery strategies and the long-term economic viability of an oil field. For use in material balance computation in edge drive configuration, reservoir engneering books provide plots for Wd as a function of dimensionless radius and time
In an edge drive configuration with the aquifer closed at its outer boundary, the governing equation gives:
The solution in laplace space:
Using the boundary conditions to evaluate the constants and substitute them:
From Darcy law, we know that the rate of water influx is proportional to the negative rate of change of pressure with respect to radial position at the reservoir aquifer boundary, hence total water influx after a time t is thus:
This can be accomplised by performing the integration in laplace space before inverting to time space.
Lets see how to compute water influx, and generate the started water influx plot as shown above
Example 2C#
