Abstract

The aim of this paper is a new semianalytical technique called the variational iteration transform method for solving fractional-order diffusion equations. In the variational iteration technique, identifying of the Lagrange multiplier is an essential rule, and variational theory is commonly used for this purpose. The current technique has the edge over other methods as it does not need extra parameters and polynomials. The validity of the proposed method is verified by considering some numerical problems. The solution achieved has shown that the better accuracy of the proposed technique. This paper proposes a simpler method to calculate the multiplier using the Shehu transformation, making a valuable technique to researchers dealing with various linear and nonlinear problems.

1. Introduction

In the last decade, significant achievements have been made to applying and the theory of fractional differential equations (FDEs). These problems are increasingly implemented to model equations in research fields as diverse as mechanical schemes, dynamical schemes, chaos, continuous-time random walks, control, chaos synchronization, subdiffusive systems and anomalous diffusive, wave propagation phenomena and unification of diffusion, and so on. The benefits of the fractional-order scheme are that it allows more significant degrees of freedom in the problem. An integer-order differential operator (DO) is a local operator, while a fractional-order DO is a nonlocal operator, taking into account that a potential state depends not only on the current state but also on the past of all its previous instances. Fractional-order schemes have become famous for this valuable property. Another explanation for applying fractional-order derivatives is that they are naturally linked to memory structures that prevail in most physical and scientific structure models. The book by Spanier and Oldham [1] continued to play an essential role in the improvement of the subject. A few other primary results connected to the solution of FDEs can be identified in the books of Ross and Miller [2], Podlubny [3], and Kilbas et al. [4].

Adolf Fick introduces the laws of diffusion of Fick in 1885. After that, the second law of Fick became identified as the diffusion equation. Diffusion is the mesh atom’s movement from a high chemical potential or higher concentration field to a lower concentration or low chemical potential field. Investigators have investigated classical wave and diffusion equations to many physical schemes, such as classical diffusion, slow diffusion, diffusion-wave combination, and classical wave equation. Many diffusion equation implementations, such as phase transformation, electrochemistry, magnetic fields, filtration, microbiology, acoustics, astrophysics, and biochemical group structures. Diffusion is determined by the gradient of the potential energy of the diffusing form. The gradient is the difference in the value of a number, e.g., concentration, strain, or temperature, with differences in one or more variables is often differentiated. Researchers have been seeking to recognize and reduce manufacturing systems problems to reach better productivity. In applied science schemes, there are various causes for entropy production. In heat engines, heat transfer, the primary source of entropy production is a mass transfer, the coupling between heat, entropy generation and chemical reaction, electrical conduction, as described in the seminal sequence of publications by Bejan et al. [5, 6]. Scholars have utilized different methods for the analysis of diffusion equations such as Chebyshev collocation technique [7], finite difference technique [8], finite volume element technique [9], variational iteration technique [10], two-step Adomian decomposition technique [11], finite volume technique [12], and Laplace transform [10].

In this paper, we implemented the variational iteration transform method to solve the fractional-order diffusion equations.

The fractional-order two-dimensional diffusion equation is given as with initial condition

The fractional-order three-dimensional diffusion equation with initial condition

A Lagrange multiplier technique has been widely utilized to solve different types of nonlinear equations [13]. This occurs in mathematics and physics or certain related fields but has been established as a basic analytical method, i.e., a variational iteration method (VIM) to model differential equations [14]. The VIM was first recommended by He [15] and was implemented effectively to address the heat transformation problem [15–17]. Recently, several researchers have widely used this method to solve linear and nonlinear equations. The approach offers a consistent and efficient mechanism for a wide variety of applications in engineering and science. It is based on a specific Lagrange multiplier and has the merits of simplicity and easy implementation. Unlike conventional numerical approaches, VIM does not require linearization, discretion, or perturbation. The successive approximation provides quick convergence for the exact result [18–21]. The variational iteration method was introduced in 2010 using the modified Riemann-Liouville derivative [22]. Recently, a procedure combining in this sense Laplace transformation and VIM was proposed [23, 24], and Wu developed a modification via fractional calculus and Laplace transformation [25]. LVIM for solving nonlinear PDEs [26] and system of fractional PDEs [27].

2. Basic Definitions

2.1. Definition

The fractional-order Riemann-Liouville integral is defined as [28, 29]

2.2. Definition

The fractional-order Caputo’s derivative of is given as [28, 29]

2.3. Definition

Shehu transformation is new and identical to other integral transformations defined for exponential order functions. In Set A, the function is defined by [30–32]

The Shehu transform which is described as for a function is defined as

The Shehu transform of a function is : then, is called the inverse of which is given as

2.4. Definition

Shehu transform for nth derivatives is given as [30–32]

2.5. Definition

The fractional-order derivatives of Shehu transformation are defined as [30–32]

2.6. Definition

The Mittag-Leffler function, for , is given as

3. The Methodology of VITM

This section introduces the general producer of VITM to solve time-fractional partial differential equation [23]. with the initial sources whereis the fractional-order Caputo derivative and,, and, are linear and nonlinear functions, respectively, and sources function.

The implementation of Shehu transformation to Eq. (13)

Using the differentiation property of Shehu transformation, we get

The Lagrange multiplier of the iterative system as

A Lagrange multiplier as

Applying inverse Shehu transform , Eq. (17) can be defined as the initial value can be described as

4. Implementation of VITM

4.1. Problem

Consider the fractional-order diffusion equation [11] with the initial condition

Applying VITM on equation (21), we have where the Lagrange multiplier is

Now take, consequently, we get

The approximate result of equation (21) can be achieved as

The exact result of equation (21)

In Figure 1, the exact and the VITM solutions of problem 1 at are show by subgraphs, respectively. From the given figures, it can be seen that both the VITM and exact results are in close contact with each other. Also, in Figure 2, the VITM results of problem 1 are investigated at different fractional-order and of 3D and 2D. It is analyzed that in Table 1, the time-fractional problem results are convergent to an integer order effect as time-fractional analysis to integer order.

Figure 1 

Graph of exact and analytical results of Problem 3.1.

Figure 2 

The different fractional-order graphs of Problem 3.1.

4.2. Problem

Consider the two-dimensional fractional-order diffusion equation [11] with the initial condition

Applying VITM on equation (38), we have where the Lagrange multiplier is

Now take, consequently, we get

The approximate result of equation (38) can be achieved as

When , the VITM solution is

The exact solution in closed form is

In Figure 3, the exact and the VITM solutions of problem 2 at are shown by subgraphs, respectively. From the given figures, it can be seen that both the VITM and exact results are in close contact with each other. Also, in Figure 4, the VITM results of problem 2 are investigated at different fractional-order and of 3D and 2D. It is analyzed that in Table 2, the time-fractional problem results are convergent to an integer order effect as time-fractional analysis to integer order.

Figure 3 

Graph of exact and approximate solutions of Problem 3.2.

Figure 4 

The different fractional-order graphs of Problem 3.2.

4.3. Problem

Consider the two-dimensional fractional-order diffusion equation [11] with the initial condition

Applying VITM on equation (38), we have where the Lagrange multiplier is

Now take, consequently, we get

The approximate result of equation (38) can be achieved as

When , then the VITM solution is