J.

McKelliget, 2002

2D Separation of Variables in Cylindrical Coordinates

Consider the problem of a cylinder with a specified heat flux at the outer surface, and
specified temperature T=0 at each end.

T=0
z
T q0 ( z )
=
r
k

T=0

Assuming azimuthal symmetry, T=T(r,z), the steady-state heat conduction equation in

cylindrical polar coordinates becomes
2T
r2

1 T
2T
+
=0
rr
z2

Postulate that
T ( r , z ) = R( r ) Z( z)

The heat conduction equation becomes

1 d 2 R 1 dR
+

R d r 2 r d r

1 d 2Z
=

= 2

2
Zdz

or,
d 2R
dr

1 dR
2
R = 0
rdr

d 2Z
dz

+ Z = 0

As with the cartesian case we choose the direction where both boundary conditions are
homogeneous (separable). The z direction boundary conditions separate to
1/1

 J. McKelliget, 2002

Z (0) = 0
Z (h ) = 0

We have seen this before. The eigenvalues are

h = n

; n = 1,2,3.....

and the eigenfunctions are

n z
Zn = An sin

The equation for R is

d 2R
d r2

1 dR
2
R = 0
rdr

When re-expressed in terms of the independent variable, x= r , it reduces to the

modified Bessel equation of zero order
d 2R
d x2

1 dR
R =0
xdr

The general solution is

R = CI 0 ( r ) + DK0 ( r )
Since K0 as r 0 we must set D=0 to get
R = CI 0 ( r )
The temperature solution now becomes
Tn ( r , z ) = An I0 (

n r
n z
)sin(
) ; n = 1,2,3.....
h
h

These functions satisfy the heat conduction equation, the zero temperature boundary
conditions in the z direction, and have zero derivative at the axis of symmetry. Each one,
by itself, is incapable of satisfying the the specified flux boundary condition at the outer
surface of the cylinder. Previous experience, however, suggests that a linear combination
of these functions might be able to satisfy this boundary condition. Consider

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

T (r , z ) =

An I0 (

n =1

n r
n z
)sin(
)
h
h

taking the derivative and using the derivative property of modified Bessel functions
( I 0' = I1 ),

T
n
n r
n z
= An
I1(
)sin(
)
r n=1
h
h
h

The boundary condition becomes

T q0
n b
n z
n
=
= An
I1(
) sin(
)
r
k n=1
h
h
h

q (z )
Again, this is a Fourier sine expansion of the function 0
with the term [] being the
k
fourier expansion coefficient.
h

n
n b
2 q
n
An
I1(
) = 0 sin( z )dz
h
h
h k
h
0

or
h

2
q0
n
An =
sin( z )dz
n b k
h
n I1(
)0
h

The analytic solution becomes

2
q0
n
n r
n z
T (r , z ) =
sin( z )dz I 0 (
)sin(
)

n b k
h
h
h
n =1 n I1(

)0

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

Homogeneous Boundary Conditions in the r-direction

Consider a cylindrical problem where the homogeneous direction is r. A cylinder has
zero temperature at the outer surface, zero temperature at the lower surface and specified
temperature at the top surface.

T=T h
z
T =0

T=0

Assuming azimuthal symmetry, T=T(r,z), the steady-state heat conduction equation in

cylindrical polar coordinates becomes
2T

1 T
2T
+
+
=0
r2 r r
z2

Postulate that
T ( r , z ) = R( r ) Z( z)

The heat conduction equation becomes

1 d 2 R 1 dR
+

R d r 2 r d r

1 d 2Z
=C
=
Z d z2

or,
d 2R
dr

1 dR
CR = 0
r dr

d 2Z
d z2

+ CZ = 0

where C is the separation constant.

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 J. McKelliget, 2002
What makes this problem different is that the homogeneous boundary conditions are in
the r direction. They are
T
= 0 ; T (b , z ) = 0
r r = 0
and separate to
dR
= 0 ; R (b ) = 0
dr r = 0
The radial equation is
d 2R
dr

1 dR
CR = 0
r dr

Case I C=0. The equation becomes

d 2R
dr

1 dR
=0
rdr

or

1 d dR
r
=0
rdr dr
This is integrated once to give
dR A
=
dr r

dR
= 0 immediately requires that A=0 and
dr r = 0
dR
=0 R=B
dr

The symmetry axis boundary condition

The boundary condition R ( b ) = 0 requires that B=0 and we are left with the trivial
solution. Thus the separation constant cannot be zero if we are looking for non trivial
solutions.

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 J. McKelliget, 2002
Case II: C>0
Define the real constant as
2 = C
The equation for R (when re-expressed in terms of the independent variable x = r ) is the
modified Bessel equation
x

d 2R
dx

+x

dR
dx

x R=0

and has the general solution

R = EI 0 ( r ) + DK0 ( r )
Since K0 as r 0 we must set D=0 to get
R = EI 0 ( r )
The boundary condition R ( b ) = 0 requires
0 = EI 0 ( b )
If you refer back to the plot of I 0 given in the section on Modified Bessel Functions you
will see that it is never 0. This means that the only way of satisfying the boundary
condition is to set E=0, which, again, gives the trivial solution.
CaseIII: C<0
Define the real constant as
2 = C
The equation for R (when re-expressed in terms of the independent variable x = r ) is the
Bessel equation
x

d 2R
dx

+x

dR
dx

and has the general solution

6/6

+x R=0

 J. McKelliget, 2002

R = EJ 0 ( r ) + DY0 ( r )
Since Y0 as r 0 we must set D=0 to get
R = EJ 0 ( r )
The boundary condition R ( b ) = 0 requires
0 = EJ 0 ( b)
If you refer back to the plot of J 0 given in the section on Bessel Functions you will see
that it is an oscillatory function similar to a decaying sine wave. This means that we can
satisfy the boundary condition (without setting E=0) as long as the separation constant
satisfies the equation
0 = J 0 ( n b )
The values of n that satisfy this equation are called the eigenvalues of the problem.
Although we cannot give a simple solution to this equation, the eigenvalues are a discrete
infinite set of numbers that can be calculated or looked up in tables.
The axial equation becomes
d 2Z n
dz

n Zn = 0

which has the general solution

Zn = Dn cosh( n z ) + En sinh( n z )
The boundary condition
T ( r ,0) = 0 = Rn ( x ) Zn (0)
is separable and gives Zn (0)=0. This can be satisfied if we set Dn =0. The solution for the
temperature becomes
Tn = Fn J 0 ( n r )sinh( n z )

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 J. McKelliget, 2002
These functions satisfy the heat conduction equation and the three homogeneous
boundary conditions. Each one, by itself, is incapable of satisfying the the specified
temperature boundary condition at z=h. Previous experience, however, suggests that a
linear combination of these functions might be able to satisfy this boundary condition.
Consider

T (r , z ) =

Fn J 0 ( nr )sinh( n z )

n =1

Putting in the boundary condition

T (r , h) = Th =

Fn J 0 ( nr )sinh( n h)

n =1

How to determine the constants Fn ? When we solved a similar problem in Cartesian

coordinates we used the properties of the Fourier series and function orthogonality. We
could do the same here if the Bessel Functions were orthogonal. We will state the
following orthogonality relationship that we will prove later.
b

rJ 0 ( n r )J 0 ( mr )dr = 0

if

n m

where n are the solutions of the equation 0 = J 0 ( nb )

Multiplying the equation
Th =

Fn J 0 ( n r )sinh(n h)

n=1

by rJ 0 ( m r ) and then integrating from 0 to b gives

b

sinh( n h )
rT
J
(

r
)
dr
=
F
rJ
(

r
)
J
(

r
)
dr

h
0
m
n
0
m
0
n

n
=
1
0
0

The integral in square brackets is only non-zero when n=m and the above expression
becomes
b

sinh( m h )
rT
J
(

r
)
dr
=
F
rJ
(

r
)
J
(

r
)
dr
m 0 m
0 m
h0 m

0
0

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

This gives
b

Fm =

rTh J 0 ( mr )dr
0

rJ 0 ( mr ) J 0 ( m r )dr sinh( m h)
0

In summary, the analytic solution becomes

T (r , z ) =

Fn J 0 ( nr )sinh( n z )

n =1

where
b

Fn =

rTh J 0 ( n r )dr
0

rJ 0 ( n r ) J 0 ( n r)dr sinh( nh)

0

and n are the solutions of the equation 0 = J 0 ( nb )

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 J. McKelliget, 2002

Proof of Orthogonality Relationship

Prove that
b

rJ 0 ( n r )J 0 ( mr )dr = 0

if

n m

and n are the solutions of the equation 0 = J 0 ( nb )

Use the notation

m = J o ( m r ) ; n = J o ( nr )
These functions satisfy the Bessel Equation
d d m
r
+ m2 r m = 0
dr dr
d d n
r
+ n2rn = 0

dr dr

Multiply the first equation by n , the second by m , subtract the equations, and then
integrate from 0 to b
b

d d m
d d n

2
2
n dr r dr + mrmn m dr r dr n rmn dr = 0

Rearrange as
b

d d
d d
2
2
n dr r drm dr m dr r drn dr + m n r mn dr = 0
0
0
0

The first two terms can be integrated by parts to give

b

dm
dm d n
dn
d n dm

2
2
nr dr r dr dr dr mr dr + r dr dr dr + m n rm ndr = 0
0 0
0 0
0
In this equation the first two integrals cancel to give

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 J. McKelliget, 2002
b

d m
d n

2
2
n r dr m r dr + m n rmn dr = 0

0
0
0

Both n and m are zero at x=b as a result of the eigenvalue equation 0 = J 0 ( nb ) .

The derivatives of the Bessel functions are zero at x=0 , (as is r), so both terms in square
brackets are zero. The expression becomes

) rmn dr = 0
b

2
m
n2

If m n the integral must be zero and orthogonality is proved. This proof was very
similar to the proof for the orthogonality of sines and cosines. It is the differential
equations and the boundary conditions that are producing orthogonal functions, it is not
just something peculiar to sines cosines and Bessel functions.

11/11