Applied Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 8, 2014, no.

44, 2195 - 2210

HIKARI Ltd, www.m-hikari.com
http://dx.doi.org/10.12988/ams.2014.4285

Solution of Nonlinear Fractional Differential

Equations Using the Homotopy Perturbation

Sumudu Transform Method

Eltayeb A. Yousif

Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences,

University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Northern Border University,
Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia

Sara H. M. Hamed

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences and Statistics,

Alneelain University, Khartoum 11121, Sudan

Copyright 2014 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed. This is an open access article
distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

In this paper, we obtain exact analytical solutions of nonlinear fractional

differential equations using a combined form of the Homotopy perturbation
method with the Sumudu transform. The solutions are given in closed forms in
terms of Mittage-Leffler functions. The fractional derivatives are considered in
Caputo sense. The method is illustrated through a number of test examples.

Keywords: Homotopy Perturbation Method, Sumudu Transform, Nonlinear

Fractional Differential Equations, Mittage-Leffler functions
2196 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

1. Introduction
Fractional calculus is a generalization of differentiation and integration to
non-integer orders. Many problems in physics and engineering are modulated in
terms of fractional differential and integral equations, such as acoustics, diffusion,
signal processing, electrochemistry, and may other physical phenomena [14,26].
During last decades, a great deal of interest appears in fractional differential
equations. The solutions of fractional equations are investigated by many authors
using powerful methods in obtaining exact and approximate solutions
[1,25,30-32,35,36].
The Homotopy perturbation method (HPM) is proposed by He in 1999 [17]. This
method is a coupling of traditional perturbation method and homotopy in topology.
Later on He himself drawn many modifications and developments of the method
[17-22]. In recent years Homotopy perturbation method has been extensively
introduced by numerous authors, and implemented to obtain exact and
approximate analytical solutions to a wide range of both linear and nonlinear
problems in science and engineering [4,6,15,16,20,22,23,30,32].
Watugala in 1993 [10] introduced a new integral transform and named it as
Sumudu transform, used it in obtaining the solution of ordinary differential
equations in control engineering problems. Asiru [28] implemented the Sumudu
transform for solving integral equations of convolution type. Belgacem et al
[18,19] presented the fundamental properties of Sumudu transform. Kilicman and
Eltayeb [2,3,12] investigated various types of problems via Sumudu transform,
including ordinary and partial differential equations. Gupta and Bhavna [37] used
Sumudu transform in determining the solution of reaction-diffusion equation.
Rana et al [29] applied He's homotopy perturbation method to compute Sumudu
transform. Several authors [1,31,34-36] have discussed many fractional partial
differential equations using Sumudu transform. The Homotopy perturbation
Sumudu transform method [7,11,24,25,29,33] is applied to solve many problems,
for example, nonlinear equations, heat and wave-like equations.
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2197

In this paper the authors implemented the Homotopy perturbation Sumudu

transform method (HPSTM) to evaluate the exact analytical solution of nonlinear
fractional partial differential equations.
This work is organized as follows: In section 2 we provide some preliminaries.
Section 3 introduces the concept of Homotopy perturbation method, while section 4
gives the Sumudu transform. The Homotopy perturbation Sumudu transform
method (HPSTM) is analyzed in section 5. Numerical examples are provided in
section 6. The conclusions are given in section 7.

2. Preliminaries
Definition (2.1): The Caputo fractional derivative of order of a function
( ) is defined by [14,26]

) ( )( )
( ( )
( ) ( )

( )
{
Where is called the Caputo derivative operator.
Definition (2.2): The Mittag-Leffler function with two parameters, is defined by
[13,14,26,27]

( ) ( )
( )

The following results are obtained directly from definition ( ):

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) } ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) [ ( )]

Note (2.3): The special type of Mittag-Leffler function ( ) is given by

[13]
( ) ( ) ( )

By using (4), we have to drive

2198 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

( ) ( ) ( )

where is a complementary error function. These two functions are used
further in this paper. The derivation of formula (5) based on definition of
Mittage-Leffler function and formula (4), we have

( )
( ) ( )
( )

Replacing with in the RHS of ( ), we get

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )

( ( ) )

Substituting ( ) ( ) , then we get the result.

3. Homotopy Perturbation Method

To illustrate the concept of Homotopy perturbation method, we consider the
nonlinear differential equation:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
with the boundary conditions:

( ) ( )

Where is a linear operator, is nonlinear operator, is boundary operator,

is the boundary of the domain and ( ) is a known analytic function.
The Hes homotopy perturbation technique [8-10] defines the Homotopy
( ) [ ] which satisfies:
( ) ( )[ ( ) ( )] [ ( ) ( ) ( )] (9)
or
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) [ ( ) ( )] ( )
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2199

Where and [ ] is an impending parameter, is an initial

approximation which satisfies the boundary condition. The basic assumption is that
the solution of equation (9) and equation (10) can be expressed as power series in
as follows:
( )
The approximate solution of equation (7) is given by
( )

4. Sumudu Transform
Consider functions in the set A, that defined by:
||
{() | ( )| ( ) [ )}

where is a constant must be finite, need not simultaneously exist,

and each may be finite. The Sumudu transform is defined by [10]

( ) ( ( )) ( ) ( ) ( )

Definition (4.1): The Sumudu transform of fractional order derivative, is defined

by [25,34]

[ ( )] [ ( )] ( )
[ ( )] ( )

5. Analysis of the method

In this section we need to illustrate the concept and construction of Homotopy
perturbation Sumudu transforms method (HPSTM) for fractional equations, that by
considering the general nonlinear nonhomogenous time-fractional partial
differential equation with the initial conditions to by:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( ) } ( )
( )
2200 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

Applying Sumudu transform on both sides of (15) with respect to t, we get

( ( ) ( ) ( )) ( ( ))

( )
( ( )) ( ( ) ( )) ( ( ))

( ( )) ( ) ( ( ) ( ) ( ))

Taking the inverse Sumudu transform to the above result, we have

( )
( )
( )

( ( ( ( )) ( ( ) ( )))) ( )

Application of the Homotopy perturbation method to (16), yields

( )( ( ) ( ))

( )
( ( )
( )

( ( ( ( )) ( ( ) ( )))))

( )
( ) ( )
( )

( ( ( ( ))

( ( ) ( )))) ( )

Let:

( ) ( )

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ( )) ( )
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2201

( ( )) ( )

Substituting (18) into equation (17), we get

( )
( ) ( )
( )

( ( ( ( ))

( ( ) ( ( ))))) ( )

( ) ( )

( )
( ) ( ( ( ) ( ) ( ( ))))
( )

( ) ( ( ( ) ( ( ))))

( ) ( ( ( ) ( ( ))))

The solution of equation (15) is given by

( )

6. Numerical examples
Example (1): Consider the nonlinear nonhomogenous time-fractional invicid
Burgers equation
( ) ( ) ( )
} ( )
( )
Solution: By applying (HPSTM) to equation (21), then from (19), we have
2202 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

( ) ( ( ( ) ( ( ( )))))

( )
( ) ( )
(

( ( ( ( ( )))))

)
( )

( ) ( ) ( ( ( ( ( )))))
( ) ( )

( ) ( ( ( ( ) ( ))))
( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( ( ( ( ))))

( ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )))

( ) ( )
( ) ( )

( ) ( ( ( ( ))))

( ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )))

( )
( ) ( )
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2203

( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( )

( )
( ) ( ) ( )

( )
( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

( ) ( )

Remark (1): As special case if we take then from (4) and (5), we have

( ) ( ) ( )

( ) .

Remark (2): If then, ( ) ( ) ( ) .

This agrees with the solution obtained by Wazwaz [5].
Example (2): Consider the following nonlinear time-fractional equation
( ) ( ) ( )
} ( )
( ) ( )
Solution: By applying (19) in (22), we get

( )

( ( ( ( ) ( ( )))))

( )
2204 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

( ) ( ( ( ( ) ( ( )))))

( ( ( ( ) ( ) ( ))))
( )

( ) ( ( ( ) ( ( ))))

( ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )))

( )
( ) ( )

( ) ( ( ( ) ( ( ))))

( ( ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( )))

( )
( ) ( )

( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

( )

( )
( ) ( ) ( )

( )
( ) ( )

( ) ( )
( ) ( )

Remark (3): If then:

( ) ( ) ( ) .
Example (3): Consider the time-fractional fifth order KdV equation
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2205

( )
} ( )
( )

Solution: Application of (19) into (23), yields

( )

( )
( ( ( ( ( )))))

( )

( )
( ) ( ( ( ( ( )))))

( ( ( ( ( ) ( )))))

( ( ( ( ))))
( )

( )
( ) ( ( ( ( ( )))))

( ( ( ( ( ) ( )) ( ( ) ( )))))
( )

( )

( )
( ) ( ( ( ( ( )))))
2206 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

( ( ( ( ( ) ( ))
( )

( ( ) ( )) ( ( ) ( )))))

( )

( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
Remark (4): If , then from ( ), we have:

( ) ( ) ( )

Remark (5): If then we get the solution of the classical equation as

( ) .

7. Conclusion
In the present paper, we applied the Homotopy perturbation Sumudu transform
method (HPSTM) for solving fractional nonlinear partial differential equations.
The time derivatives are considered in Caputo sense. Solutions are determined in
a compact form in terms of Mittag-Leffler functions. The terms are obtained in a
simplified way and straightforward. The method was tested on three different
problems. This method is powerful, reliable and effective, easy to implement.
Thus, this technique can be applied to solve many nonlinear problems in applied
science.

References
[1] A. Kilicman, V. G. Gupta and B. Sharma, On the solution of fractional
Maxwell equation by Sumudu transform, Journal of Mathematics Research, 2(4)
2010, 147-151.
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2207

[2] A. Kilcman and H. Eltayeb. A note on classification of hyperbolic and elliptic

equations with polynomial coefficients, Applied Mathematics Letters, 21(11)
(2008), 11241128.
[3] A. Kilcman and H. Eltayeb, A note on integral transforms and partial
differential equations, Applied Mathematical Sciences, 4(3) 2010, 109-118.
[4] A. M. Siddiqui, R. Mahmood, and Q. K Ghori, Homotopy perturbation
method for thin film flow of a fourth grade fluid down a vertical cylinder, Physics
Letters A, 352 (2006), 404410.
[5] A. M. Wazwaz, Partial Differential Equations and Solitary Waves Theory,
Higher Education Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Heidelberg, 2009.
[6] D. D. Ganji and M. Rafei, Solitary wave solutions for a generalized
HirotaSatsuma coupled KdV equation by Homotopy perturbation method,
Physics Letters A, 356 (2006), 131137.
[7] D. Kumar, J. Singh, and Sushila, Sumudu Homotopy perturbation technique,
Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, 11(6), Version 1.0, (Sept 2011).
[8] F. M. Belgacem, A. A. Karaballi, and S. L. Kalla, Analytical investigations of
the Sumudu transform and applications to integral production equations,
Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 3 (2003), 103118.
[9] F. M. Belgacem and A. A. Karaballi, Sumudu transform fundamental
properties investigations and applications, Journal of Applied Mathematics
and Stochastic Analysis, 2006 (2006), Article ID 91083, 123.
[10] G. K. Watugala, Sumudu transform: a new integral transform to solve
differential equations and control engineering problems, International Journal of
Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 24(1) (1993), 3543.
[11] H. Bulut, H. Baskonus, and S. Tulue, Homotopy perturbation Sumudu
transform method for heat equations, Mathematics in Engineering, Science
and Aerospace, 4(1) 2013.
[12] H. Eltayeb and A. Klcman, On Some Applications of a new integral
transform, International Journal of Mathematical Analysis, 4(3) (2010), 123-132.
2208 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

[13] H. J. Haubold, A. M. Mathal, and R. K. Saxena, Mittage-Leffler functions

and their applications, Journal of Applied Mathematics, 2011 (2011), Article
ID 298628, 51 pages.
[14] I. Podlubny, Fractional Differential Equations, Academic Press, 1999.
[15] J. Biazar, and H. Ghazvini, Exact solutions for nonlinear Schrdinger
equations by Hes Homotopy perturbation method, Physics Letters A, 366 (2007),
7984.
[16] J. Biazar and H. Ghazvini, Hes Homotopy perturbation method for solving
system of Volterra integral equations of the second kind, Chaos, Solitons and
Fractals, 39(3) (2009), 12531258.
[17] J. H. He, Homotopy perturbation technique, Computer Methods in Applied
Mechanics and Engineering, 178 (1999), 257262.
[18] J. H. He, Recent development of the Homotopy perturbation method,
Topological Methods in Nonlinear Analysis, 31(2) (2008), 205209.
[19] J. H. He, A modified perturbation technique depending upon an artificial
parameter, Mechanical, 35 (2000), 299311.
[20] J. H. He, Homotopy perturbation method for solving boundary value
problems, Physics Letters A, 350 (2006), 8788.
[21] J. H. He, New interpretation of Homotopy perturbation method, International
Journal of Modern Physics B, 20 (2006), 25612568.
[22] J. H. He, Application of Homotopy perturbation method to nonlinear wave
equations, Chaos, Solitons and Fractals, 26 (2005), 695700.
[23] J. H. He, A coupling method of a Homotopy technique and a perturbation
technique for nonlinear problems, International Journal of Nonlinear
Mechanics, 35 (2000), 37-43.
[24] J. Singh, D. Kumar, and A. Kilicman, Application of Homotopy perturbation
Sumudu transform method for solving heat and wave-like equations, Malaysian
Journal of Mathematical Sciences, 7(1) (2013), 79-95.
Solution of nonlinear fractional differential equations 2209

[25] J. Singh, D. Kumar, and A. Kilicman, Homotopy perturbation method for

fractional gas dynamics equation using Sumudu transform, Abstract and Applied
Analysis, 2013 (2013), Article ID 934060, 8 pages.
[26] L. Debnath, Recent applications of fractional calculus to science and
engineering, International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, 54
(2003), 34133442.
[27] L. Debnath, D. Bhatta, Integral Transforms and their Applications, 2nd edition,
Taylor & Francis Group, LLC, 2007.
[28] M. A. Asiru, Sumudu transform and the solution of integral equations of
convolution type, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science
and Technology, 32(6) (2001), 906910.
[29] M.A. Rana, A.M. Siddiquib, Q.K. Ghoric, and R. Qamar, Application of He's
Homotopy perturbation method to Sumudu transform, International Journal of
Nonlinear Sciences and Numerical Simulation, 8(2) (2007), 185-190.
[30] Q. Wang, Homotopy perturbation method for fractional KdVBurgers
equation, Chaos, Solitons and Fractals, 35 (2008), 843850.
[31] R. Darzi, B. Mohammadzade, S. Mousavi, and R. Beheshti, Sumudu transform
method for solving fractional differential equations and fractional diffusion-wave
equation, Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 6 (2013) 79-84.
[32] S. Momani and Z. Odibat, Homotopy perturbation method for nonlinear
partial differential equations of fractional order, Physics Letters A, 365 (2007),
345-350.
[33] S. Rathore, D. Kumer, J. Singh, and S. Gupta, Homotopy analysis Sumudu
transform method for nonlinear equations, International Journal of Industrial
Mathematics, 4(4) (2012), 13 pages.
[34] V. B. Chaurasia and J. Singh, Application of Sumudu transform in fractional
kinetic equations, General Mathematics Notes, 2(1) (2011), 86-95.
2210 Eltayeb A. Yousif and Sara H. M. Hamed

[35] V. G. Gupta, B. Sharma, and A. Kilicman, A note on fractional Sumudu

transform method, Journal of Applied Mathematics, 2010 (2010), Article ID
15489, 9 pages.
[36] V. G. Gupta, B. Sharma and A. Kilcman, A note on fractional Sumudu
transform, Journal of Applied Mathematics, 2010 (2010), Article ID 154189, 9
pages.
[37] V. G. Gupta and B. Sharma, Application of Sumudu transform in
reaction-diffusion systems and nonlinear waves, Applied Mathematical Sciences,
4(9) 2010, 435 446.

Received: February 11, 2014