Numeric-Analytic Form of the Adomian Decomposition Method for Two-Point Boundary Value Problems in Nonlinear Mechanics

Abstract

A new numeric-analytic technique is developed for two-point nonlinear boundary-value problems (BVPs) of engineering interest. The analytic part of the method is based on a conventional Adomian decomposition method (ADM). However, given a discretization of the one-dimensional domain, the present algorithm applies the ADM, repetitively over successive intervals and exploits a shooting algorithm to solve the BVPs. Apart from a very high rate of convergence as the discretization is made finer, yet another significant advantage of the method is that it provides the solution in a piecewise functional form and one can finally arrive at a continuous form of the global solution. The procedure is used to study planar, large-deflection (Elastica) problem of a cantilever beam subjected to a transverse, concentrated load, at its free end. Moreover the elastoplastic behavior of a cantilever is also studied. Comparisons with exact solutions as well as with results via a few other competing algorithms demonstrate the remarkable accuracy of the proposed method.