Chien-physics-informed neural networks for solving singularly perturbed boundary-layer problems

Abstract A physics-informed neural network (PINN) is a powerful tool for solving differential equations in solid and fluid mechanics. However, it suffers from singularly perturbed boundary-layer problems in which there exist sharp changes caused by a small perturbation parameter multiplying the highest-order derivatives. In this paper, we introduce Chien’s composite expansion method into PINNs, and propose a novel architecture for the PINNs, namely, the Chien-PINN (C-PINN) method. This novel PINN method is validated by singularly perturbed differential equations, and successfully solves the well-known thin plate bending problems. In particular, no cumbersome matching conditions are needed for the C-PINN method, compared with the previous studies based on matched asymptotic expansions.