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Nonlinear problems arise in many heat transfer applications, and several analytical and numerical methods for solving these problems are described in the literature. Here, the method of variation of parameters is shown to be a relatively simple method for obtaining solutions to four specific heat transfer problems: 1. a radiating annular fin, 2. conduction-radiation in a plane-parallel medium, 3. convective and radiative exchange between the surface of a continuously moving strip and its surroundings, and 4. convection from a fin with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and variable cross-sectional area. The results for each of these examples are compared to those obtained using other analytical and numerical methods. The accuracy of the method is limited only by the accuracy with which the numerical integration is performed. The method of variation of parameters is less complex and relatively easy to implement compared to other analytical methods and some numerical methods. It is slightly more computationally expensive than traditional numerical approaches. The method presented may be used to verify numerical solutions to nonlinear heat transfer problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A Volterra integral formulation based on the introduction of a term proportional to the velocity times the square of the (unknown) frequency of oscillation, a new independent variable equal to the original one times the (unknown) frequency of oscillation, the method of variation of parameters and series expansions of both the solution and the frequency of oscillation, is used to determine the periodic solutions to three nonlinear, autonomous, third-order, ordinary differential equations. It is shown that the first term of the series expansion of the frequency of oscillation coincides with that determined from a first-order harmonic balance procedure, whereas the two-term approximation to the frequency of oscillation is shown to be more accurate than that of a parameter perturbation procedure for the second equation considered in this paper. For the third equation, it is shown that the two-term approximation presented in this paper is more accurate than the corresponding one for one of the parameter perturbation methods, and for initial velocities less than one, for the other parameter perturbation approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The problem that motivates the considerations here is the construction of mathematical models of natural phenomena that depend upon past states. The paper divides naturally into two parts: in the first, we expound the inter-connection between ordinary differential equations, delay-differential equations, neutral delay-differential equations and integral equations (with emphasis on certain linear cases). As we show, this leads to a natural hierarchy of model complexity when such equations are used in mathematical and computational modelling, and to the possibility of reformulating problems either to facilitate their numerical solution or to provide mathematical insight, or both. Volterra integral equations include as special cases the others we consider. In the second part, we develop some practical and theoretical consequences of results given in the first part. In particular, we consider various approaches to the definition of an adjoint, we establish (notably, in the context of sensitivity analysis for neutral delay-differential equations) rôles for well-defined adjoints and ‘quasi-adjoints’, and we explore relationships between sensitivity analysis, the variation of parameters formulae, the fundamental solution and adjoints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper establishes several criteria on stability in terms of two measures for impulsive integro-differential equations with fixed moments of impulse effects by using the generalized variation of parameters technique unified with the Lyapunov second method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In spite of being a classical method for solving differential equations, the method of variation of parameters continues having a great interest in theoretical and practical applications, as in astrodynamics. In this paper we analyse this method providing some modifications and generalised theoretical results. Finally, we present an application to the determination of the ephemeris of an artificial satellite, showing the benefits of the method of variation of parameters for this kind of problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nonlinear variation of parameters formula for set differential equations in a metric space is developed investigating necessary tools such as differentiability of solutions relative to initial values. Other needed results are also proven. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper studies absolute stability of Lurie systems with impulsive effects. Using the method of Lyapunov functions and the variation of parameters technique, we establish sufficient conditions for absolute stability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many dynamic systems in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and information science have impulsive dynamical behaviors due to abrupt jumps at certain instants during the dynamical processes. These complex dynamic behaviors can be modeled by impulsive differential systems. This paper studies the controllability and observability for a class of time-varying impulsive control systems. Several sufficient and necessary conditions for state controllability and state observability of such systems are established and the corresponding criteria for time-invariant impulsive control systems are also obtained. Meanwhile, several new results associated with variation of parameters for time-varying impulsive control systems are derived. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]