An expansion method for singular perturbation problems

Abstract

Summary A method is proposed for obtaining a uniformly valid perturbation expansion of the solution of a non-linear partial differential equation, involving either a large or small parameter, when the solution exhibits boundary layer type dependence on the parameter. The method differs from those previously in use in that it is not based on drawing a distinction between points in the boundary layer and points in the remainder of the field. Each point is treated as belonging to both regimes and this enables a stricter control to be maintained on the error terms in the expansions. The method is devised so as to ensure that all forms of error terms are reduced in order at each step in the expansion and not merely those error terms which are mathematically most significant for limiting values of the parameter. The perturbation series can then be used for a wider range of the parameter and provides a solution even when the boundary layer is not particularly thin. The method is presented through its application to a problem which arises in the theory of the large deflexion of thin elastic plates but the principles underlying the method are more widely applicable.