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Minimal Surface Problem: PDE Modeler App

This example shows how to solve the minimal surface equation

(11+|u|2u)=0

on the unit disk Ω = {(x,y) | x2 + y2 ≤ 1}, with u = x2 on the boundary ∂Ω.

This example uses the PDE Modeler app. For the programmatic workflow, see Minimal Surface Problem.

An elliptic equation in the toolbox form is

(cu)+au=f

Therefore, for the minimal surface problem the coefficients are as follows:

c=11+|u|2, a=0, f=0

Because the coefficient c is a function of the solution u, the minimal surface problem is a nonlinear elliptic problem.

To solve the minimal surface problem in the PDE Modeler app, follow these steps:

  1. Model the surface as a unit circle.

    pdecirc(0,0,1)
  2. Check that the application mode is set to Generic Scalar.

  3. Specify the boundary conditions. To do this:

    1. Switch to boundary mode by clicking the rectangle with an arrow button or selecting Boundary > Boundary Mode.

    2. Select all boundaries by selecting Edit > Select All.

    3. Select Boundary > Specify Boundary Conditions.

    4. Specify the Dirichlet boundary condition u = x2. To do this, specify h = 1, r = x.^2.

  4. Specify the coefficients by selecting PDE > PDE Specification or clicking the partial derivative button on the toolbar. Specify c = 1./sqrt(1+ux.^2+uy.^2), a = 0, and f = 0.

  5. Initialize the mesh by selecting Mesh > Initialize Mesh.

  6. Refine the mesh by selecting Mesh > Refine Mesh.

  7. Choose the nonlinear solver. To do this, select Solve > Parameters and check Use nonlinear solver. Set the tolerance parameter to 0.001.

  8. Solve the PDE by selecting Solve > Solve PDE or clicking the partial derivative with the green triangle button on the toolbar.

  9. Plot the solution in 3-D. To do this, select PlotParameters. In the resulting dialog box, select Height (3-D plot).

    3-D solution plot in color