Template:Separation of variables in cylindrical coordinates in finite depth

The solution of the problem for the potential in finite water depth can be found by a separation ansatz,

[math]\displaystyle{ \phi (r,\theta,z) =: Y(r,\theta) Z(z).\, }[/math]

Substituting this into the equation for [math]\displaystyle{ \phi }[/math] yields

[math]\displaystyle{ \frac{1}{Y(r,\theta)} \left[ \frac{1}{r} \frac{\partial}{\partial r} \left( r \frac{\partial Y}{\partial r} \right) + \frac{1}{r^2} \frac{\partial^2 Y}{\partial \theta^2} \right] = - \frac{1}{Z(z)} \frac{\mathrm{d}^2 Z}{\mathrm{d} z^2} = k^2. }[/math]

The possible separation constants [math]\displaystyle{ k/math\gt will be determined by the free surface condition and the bed condition. {{separation of variables for a free surface}} = Separation of Variable for the Remaining Coordinates = For the solution of \lt center\gt \lt math\gt \frac{1}{r} \frac{\partial}{\partial r} \left( r \frac{\partial Y}{\partial r} \right) + \frac{1}{r^2} \frac{\partial^2 Y}{\partial \theta^2} = k_m^2 Y(r,\theta), }[/math]

another separation will be used,

[math]\displaystyle{ Y(r,\theta) =: R(r) \Theta(\theta). }[/math]

Substituting this into Laplace's equation yields

[math]\displaystyle{ \frac{r^2}{R(r)} \left[ \frac{1}{r} \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}r} \left( r \frac{\mathrm{d} R}{\mathrm{d}r} \right) - k_m^2 R(r) \right] = - \frac{1}{\Theta (\theta)} \frac{\mathrm{d}^2 \Theta}{\mathrm{d} \theta^2} = \eta^2, }[/math]

where the separation constant [math]\displaystyle{ \eta }[/math] must be an integer, say [math]\displaystyle{ \nu }[/math], in order for the potential to be continuous. [math]\displaystyle{ \Theta (\theta) }[/math] can therefore be expressed as

[math]\displaystyle{ \Theta (\theta) = C \, \mathrm{e}^{\mathrm{i} \nu \theta}, \quad \nu \in \mathbb{Z}. }[/math]

We also obtain the following expression

[math]\displaystyle{ r \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}r} \left( r \frac{\mathrm{d} R}{\mathrm{d} r} \right) - (\nu^2 + k_m^2 r^2) R(r) = 0, \quad \nu \in \mathbb{Z}. }[/math]

Substituting [math]\displaystyle{ \tilde{r}:=k_m r }[/math] and writing [math]\displaystyle{ \tilde{R} (\tilde{r}) := R(\tilde{r}/k_m) = R(r) }[/math], this can be rewritten as

[math]\displaystyle{ \tilde{r}^2 \frac{\mathrm{d}^2 \tilde{R}}{\mathrm{d} \tilde{r}^2} + \tilde{r} \frac{\mathrm{d} \tilde{R}}{\mathrm{d} \tilde{r}} - (\nu^2 + \tilde{r}^2)\, \tilde{R} = 0, \quad \nu \in \mathbb{Z}, }[/math]

which is the modified version of Bessel's equation. Substituting back, the general solution is given by

[math]\displaystyle{ R(r) = D \, I_\nu(k_m r) + E \, K_\nu(k_m r), \quad m \in \mathbb{N},\ \nu \in \mathbb{Z}, }[/math]

where [math]\displaystyle{ I_\nu }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ K_\nu }[/math] are the modified Bessel functions of the first and second kind, respectively, of order [math]\displaystyle{ \nu }[/math].

The potential [math]\displaystyle{ \phi }[/math] can thus be expressed in local cylindrical coordinates as

[math]\displaystyle{ \phi (r,\theta,z) = \sum_{m = 0}^{\infty} \phi_m(z) \sum_{\nu = - \infty}^{\infty} \left[ D_{m\nu} I_\nu (k_m r) + E_{m\nu} K_\nu (k_m r) \right] \mathrm{e}^{\mathrm{i} \nu \theta}, }[/math]

Note that [math]\displaystyle{ K_\nu (-\mathrm{i} x) = \pi / 2\,\, \mathrm{i}^{\nu+1} H_\nu^{(1)}(x) }[/math] with [math]\displaystyle{ H_\nu^{(1)} }[/math] denoting the Hankel function of the first kind of order [math]\displaystyle{ \nu }[/math].

Also, [math]\displaystyle{ I_\nu }[/math] does not satisfy the Sommerfeld Radiation Condition since it becomes unbounded for increasing real argument. These solution represents incoming waves.