 Reflected-step solution of the wave equation

For $y_{tt}=c^2{y}_{xx}$ on $0<x<L$, initially at rest with zero displacement, apply $y(0,t)=a$ for $t>0$ and keep $y(L,t)=0$. A geometric series in the Laplace transform givesHere $H$ is the Heaviside step function, $L,c>0$, and only finitely many terms contribute at any finite time. The second step in each pair is a sign-reversed reflection from the fixed endpoint. The formula solves the wave equation classically away from the fronts and distributionally across them; the midpoint is a square wave of period $2L/c$.