The paper presents analysis of a solution of Laplace equation with the use of FEM harmonic basic functions. The essence of the problem is aimed at presenting an approximate solution based on possibly large finite element. Introduction of harmonic functions allows to reduce the order of numerical integration as compared to a classical Finite Element Method. Numerical calculations conform good efficiency of the use of basic harmonic functions for resolving direct and inverse problems of stationary heat conduction. Further part of the paper shows the use of basic harmonic functions for solving Poisson's equation and for drawing up a complete system of biharmonic and polyharmonic basic functions

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In this study, the Cauchy problem for the Laplace equation in a multiply connected region was solved. Solving this problem was replaced by solving the Poisson equation in a simply connected region with an unknown source function different from zero in the adjoined region. To determine the power of the sources, a convergent iterative process has been developed based on polyharmonic functions, including the tests on the effect of the polyharmonic function order on the solution accuracy.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the method for solving the inverse Cauchy-type problem for the Laplace’s equation. Calculations were made for the rectangular domain with the target temperature on three boundaries and, additionally, on one of the boundaries, the heat flux distribution was selected. The purpose of consideration was to determine the distribution of temperature on a section of the boundary of the investigated domain (boundary Γ1) and find proper method for the problem regularization. Design/methodology/approach The solution of the direct and the inverse (Cauchy-type) problems for the Laplace’s equation is presented in the paper. The form of the solution is noted as the linear combination of the Chebyshev polynomials. The collocation method in which collocation points had been determined based on the Chebyshev nodes was applied. To solve the Cauchy problem, the minimum of functional describing differences between the target and the calculated values of temperature and the heat flux on a section of the domain’s boundary was sought. Various types of the inverse problem regularization, based on Tikhonov and Tikhonov–Philips regularizations, were analysed. Regularization parameter α was chosen with the use of the Morozov discrepancy principle. Findings Calculations were performed for random disturbances to the heat flux density of up to 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05 of the target value. The quality of obtained results was next estimated by means of the norm. Effect of the disturbance to the heat flux density and the type of regularization on the sought temperature distribution on the boundary Γ1 was investigated. Presented methods of regularization are considerably less sensitive to disturbances to measurement data than to Tikhonov regularization. Practical implications Discussed in this paper is an example of solution of the Cauchy problem for the Laplace’s equation in the rectangular domain that can be applied for determination of the temperature distribution on the boundary of the heated element where it is impossible to measure temperature or the measurement is subject to a great error, for instance on the inner wall of the boiler. Authors investigated numerical examples for functions with singularities outside the domain, for which values of gradients change significantly within the calculation domain what corresponds to significant changes in temperature on the wall of the boiler during the fuel combustion. Originality/value In this paper, a new method for solving the Cauchy problem for the Laplace’s equation is described. To solve this problem, the Chebyshev polynomials and nodes were used. Various types of regularization of this problem were considered.

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