AN EFFICIENT PROCEDURE FOR FINDING THE STEADY STATE SOLUTION OF CYCLIC, LINEAR, DISCRETE SYSTEMS

A general numerical method for finding the steady state solution of a cyclic system is presented. The method determines the initial values by enforcing the conditions of periodicity. In this way the initial value is found by integrating through only one cycle, often resulting in a considerable saving of computing effort. The method is applicable to any linear discrete set of difference equations with periodic parameters and forcing functions. The application of the method to a single pole representation of heat flow in buildings is demonstrated.