Delta Function

ME710 Mathematical Methods For Engineers

Mechanical Engineering
NITK Surathkal
Adapted from
Introduction
• Differential equation – = . The solution is u(x)
• Matrix form as Ku=f. The solution is vectors of u
• This comparison is quite remarkable when special vectors f and functions f(x)
are the forcing terms on the right side.
– With a uniform load f(x) = constant , both solutions are parabolas
• Now comes the opposite choice with f = point load:
Delta Function
• It is zero except at one point.
• The function δ(x - a) represents a
– "spike" or
– a "point load" or
– an "impulse“ concentrated at the single point x = a.
Delta Function
• You must recognize that δ(x) and δ(x - a) are not true functions!
• They are zero except at one point x = 0 or x = a where the function
is "infinite" -too vague.
• The spike is "infinitely tall and infinitesimally thin."
• Area under the spike is
• If it is multiplied by a function, then we have
Delta Function

• Integration of δ(x) is the unit step function S (x)

• The area is 1 under the spike at x = 0 .
• The standard ramp function is R=0 up to the corner at x = 0 and then
R= x. Its slope dR/dx is a step function.
• Its second derivative d2R/dx2 = δ(x) Delta Function
Delta Function

• Now shift the three graphs by a.

• The shifted ramp R(x - a) is 0 then x - a.
• This has first derivative S(x - a) and second derivative δ(x - a).
• In words, the first derivative j umps by 1 at x = a so the second
derivative is a delta function.
• Since our equation -d2u/dx2 = δ(x - a) has a minus sign, we want the
slope to drop by 1.
• The descending ramp -R( x - a) is a particular solution to -u " = δ ( x - a) .
Delta Function

• The general solution is

Delta Function
• The general solution is
• u(x) = -R(x-a) + (1-a)x
• Note that R(x-a) = 0 for 0<x<a
• Also R(x-a) = x-a for a<x<1

• At the point a the slope drops by 1

Fixed-Free case
How to do it in FDM
• In matrix form, we have

• Column of I means, column vector having only value at a particular row (corresponding to
the point where the load is applied)

• Considering, n=5 and Δx=1/(n+1)=1/6

How to do it in FDM
• Considering, n=5 and Δx=1/(n+1)=1/6