Mathematical Problems in Engineering 
Volume 2008 (2008), Article ID 635231, 9 pages
doi:10.1155/2008/635231
Research Article

Comparative Analysis of Power-Law Fin-Type Problems Using Variational Iteration Method and Finite Element Method

Mehmet Tarık Atay1 and Safa Bozkurt Coşkun2

 1Department of Mathematics, Nigde University, 51245 Nigde, Turkey
2Department of Civil Engineering, Nigde University, 51245 Nigde, Turkey
Received 22 September 2007; Revised 28 April 2008; Accepted 12 June 2008

Recommended by Angelo Luongo

Abstract

Variational iteration method is applied to examine the temperature distribution within a single fin with a one-dimensional steady-state nonlinear heat conduction equation. Variation of temperature due to different levels of nonlinearities is analyzed. The results obtained by means of variational iteration method are compared with the results obtained from finite element method. A fourth iteration variational iteration solution is used in all cases considered. An error analysis is also conducted to evaluate the performance of proposed solution technique. The results have shown that variational iteration method is a powerful solution technique in the analysis of power-law fin-type problems.