A new approach for a class of nonlinear boundary value problems with multiple solutions

Abstract

In this paper, an approach based on the variational iteration method (VIM) is proposed with an auxiliary parameter to predict the multiplicity of the solutions of homogeneous nonlinear ordinary differential equations with boundary conditions. The proposed approach is capable to predict and calculate all branches of the solutions simultaneously. Four practical problems are chosen to show the efficiency and importance of the proposed method. The proposed approach successfully detects multiple solutions to Bratu’s problem, the model of mixed convection flows in a vertical channel, the nonlinear model of diffusion and reaction in porous catalysts and the nonlinear reactive transport model.