Textile Drape as Mechanical Phenomenon

The paper copes with the based on the continuum mechanics simulation of the textile drape. A textile surface is treated as linear elastic two‐dimensional Cosserat continuum with independent in plane and out of plane material properties. Bending stiffness and in plane shearing stiffness measured with the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics (KES‐F) are used in the calculations. Other necessary material constants in the model, which are not measurable in a direct way with the KES‐F and which are introduced in the model, are assumed. To solve the equilibrium equations of the system the Finite Element Method (FEM) is used. An implementation of the arc‐length algorithm makes the tracing of the full equilibrium path (pre‐buckling, critical and post‐buckling behaviour) possible. The paper proves that the simulation of the textile drape with the methods of continuum mechanics can be done regarding measured material mechanical properties and carrying out a stability analysis. By now, the stability analysis has not been examined by the FE textile researchers. Therefore neither critical and post‐buckling phenomena nor the ambiguity of the textile behaviour have been described or explained sufficiently.     

Notes on the peripheral volume of hyperbolic 3‐manifolds

We consider orientable hyperbolic 3‐manifolds with either non‐empty compact geodesic boundary, or some toric cusps, or both. For any such M we analyze what portion of the volume of M can be recovered by inserting in M boundary collars and cusp neighbourhoods with disjoint embedded interiors. Our main result is that this portion can only be maximal in some combinatorially extremal configurations. The techniques we employ are very elementary but the result is in our opinion of some interest.     

Linear and non‐linear stability thresholds for thermal convection in a box

We analyse the problem of finding instability thresholds and global non‐linear stability bounds for thermal convection in a linearly viscous fluid in a finite box. The vertical walls are maintained at different temperatures which gives rise to a non‐uniform temperature field in steady state. This problem was previously analysed by Georgescu and Mansutti (Int. J. Non‐Linear Mech. 1999; 34 :603–613). In our work we determine the linear instability threshold to be well above the global stability boundary found by an energy method. Since the perturbed system is not symmetric we expect this to be the case, and our analysis yields a parameter region where possible sub‐critical instabilities may be found. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymptotic computation for transient heat conduction performance of periodic porous materials in curvilinear coordinates by the second‐order two‐scale method

A novel second‐order two‐scale (SOTS) analysis method is developed for predicting the transient heat conduction performance of porous materials with periodic configurations in curvilinear coordinates. Under proper coordinate transformations, some non‐periodic porous structures in Cartesian coordinates can be transformed into periodic structures in general curvilinear coordinates, which is our particular interest in this study. The SOTS asymptotic expansion formulas for computing the temperature field of transient heat conduction problem in curvilinear coordinates are constructed, some coordinate transformations are discussed, and the related SOTS formulas are given. The feature of this asymptotic model is that each of the cell functions defined in the periodic cell domain is associated with the macroscopic coordinates and the homogenized material coefficients varies continuously in the macroscopic domain behaving like the functional gradient material. Finally, the corresponding SOTS finite element algorithms are brought forward, and some numerical examples are given in detail. The numerical results demonstrate that the SOTS method proposed in this paper is valid to predict transient heat conduction performance of porous materials with periodicity in curvilinear coordinates. By proper coordinate transformations, the SOTS asymptotic analysis method can be extended to more general non‐periodic porous structures in Cartesian coordinates. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the resolvent arising in a parameter‐elliptic multi‐order boundary problem

In this paper we consider a boundary problem for a parameter‐elliptic, multi‐order system of differential equations defined over a bounded region in $\mathbb {R}^n$ and under limited smoothness assumptions as well as under boundary conditions which include those of Dirichlet. Information is then derived concerning the asymptotic behaviour of the trace of a power of the resolvent of the Hilbert space operator, in general non‐selfadjoint, induced by the boundary problem under null boundary conditions. This information will then be used in a subsequent work to derive various results pertaining to the asymptotic behaviour of the eigenvalues of this operator.     

Mesh‐independent convergence of the modified inexact Newton method for a second order non‐linear problem

In this paper, we consider an inexact Newton method applied to a second order non‐linear problem with higher order non‐linearities. We provide conditions under which the method has a mesh‐independent rate of convergence. To do this, we are required, first, to set up the problem on a scale of Hilbert spaces and second, to devise a special iterative technique which converges in a higher than first order Sobolev norm. We show that the linear (Jacobian) system solved in Newton's method can be replaced with one iterative step provided that the initial non‐linear iterate is accurate enough. The closeness criteria can be taken independent of the mesh size. Finally, the results of numerical experiments are given to support the theory. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Well‐posedness and asymptotic behaviour of a non‐dissipative beam equation with a quotient space method

A beam equation model is studied, for which no suitable dissipative norm can be associated but only a semi‐norm, vanishing on some subspace. Considering a quotient by that subspace creates dissipativity which guarantees well posedness of this problem. Asymptotic behaviour is also obtained by using the quotient. The linear problem, involving high‐order multiplier is studied and then the non‐linear problem, thanks to the artificial problem method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of faults under slip‐dependent friction. Non‐linear eigenvalue analysis

We analyse the evolution of a system of finite faults by considering the non‐linear eigenvalue problems associated to static and dynamic solutions on unbounded domains. We restrict our investigation to the first eigenvalue (Rayleigh quotient). We point out its physical significance through a stability analysis and we give an efficient numerical algorithm able to compute it together with the corresponding eigenfunction. We consider the anti‐plane shearing on a system of finite faults under a slip‐dependent friction in a linear elastic domain, not necessarily bounded. The static problem is formulated in terms of local minima of the energy functional. We introduce the non‐linear (static) eigenvalue problem and we prove the existence of a first eigenvalue/eigenfunction characterizing the isolated local minima. For the dynamic problem, we discuss the existence of solutions with an exponential growth, to deduce a (dynamic) non‐linear eigenvalue problem. We prove the existence of a first dynamic eigenvalue and we analyse its behaviour with respect to the friction parameter. We deduce a mixed finite element discretization of the non‐linear spectral problem and we give a numerical algorithm to approach the first eigenvalue/eigenfunction. Finally we give some numerical results which include convergence tests, on a single fault and a two‐faults system, and a comparison between the non‐linear spectral results and the time evolution results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model with ratio‐dependent functional response and alternative food for the predator

In this work, a modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model is analyzed, considering an alternative food for the predator and a ratio‐dependent functional response to express the species interaction. The system is well defined in the entire first quadrant except at the origin ( 0 , 0 ) . Given the importance of the origin ( 0 , 0 ) as it represents the extinction of both populations, it is convenient to provide a continuous extension of the system to the origin. By changing variables and a time rescaling, we obtain a polynomial differential equations system, which is topologically equivalent to the original one, obtaining that the non‐hyperbolic equilibrium point ( 0 , 0 ) in the new system is a repellor for all parameter values. Therefore, our novel model presents a remarkable difference with other models using ratio‐dependent functional response. We establish conditions on the parameter values for the existence of up to two positive equilibrium points; when this happen, one of them is always a hyperbolic saddle point, and the other can be either an attractor or a repellor surrounded by at least one limit cycle. We also show the existence of a separatrix curve dividing the behavior of the trajectories in the phase plane. Moreover, we establish parameter sets for which a homoclinic curve exits, and we show the existence of saddle‐node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation, and homoclinic bifurcation. An important feature in this model is that the prey population can go to extinction; meanwhile, population of predators can survive because of the consumption of alternative food in the absence of prey. In addition, the prey population can attain their carrying capacity level when predators go to extinction. We demonstrate that the solutions are non‐negatives and bounded (dissipativity and permanence of population in many other works). Furthermore, some simulations to reinforce our mathematical results are shown, and we further discuss their ecological meanings. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Minimization of risks in defined benefit pension plan with time‐inconsistent preferences

In this paper, we investigate the defined benefit pension plan, where the object of the manager is to minimise the contribution rate risk and the solvency risk by considering a quadratic performance criterion. To incorporate some well‐documented behavioural features of human beings, we consider the situation where the discounting is non‐exponential. It leads to a time‐inconsistent control problem in the sense that the Bellman optimality principle does no longer hold. In our model, we assume that the benefit outgo is constant, and the pension fund can be invested in a risk‐free asset and a risky asset whose return follows a geometric Brownian motion. We characterise the time‐consistent strategies and value function in terms of the solution of a system of integral equations. The existence and uniqueness of the solution is verified, and the approximation of the solution is obtained. Some numerical results of the equilibrium contribution rate and equilibrium investment policy are presented for three types of discount functions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ritz–Galerkin method for solving a parabolic equation with non‐local and time‐dependent boundary conditions

The paper is devoted to the investigation of a parabolic partial differential equation with non‐local and time‐dependent boundary conditions arising from ductal carcinoma in situ model. Approximation solution of the present problem is implemented by the Ritz–Galerkin method, which is a first attempt at tackling parabolic equation with such non‐classical boundary conditions. In the process of dealing with the difficulty caused by integral term in non‐local boundary condition, we use a trick of introducing the transition function G(x,t) to convert non‐local boundary to another non‐classical boundary, which can be handled with the Ritz–Galerkin method. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique in this paper. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Travelling Wavefronts in Reaction‐Diffusion Equations with Convection Effects and Non‐Regular Terms

This paper deals with the appearance of monotone bounded travelling wave solutions for a parabolic reaction‐diffusion equation which frequently meets both in chemical and biological systems. In particular, we prove the existence of monotone front type solutions for any wave speed c ≥ c* and give an estimate for the threshold value c*. Our model takes into account both of a density dependent diffusion term and of a non‐linear convection effect. Moreover, we do not require the main non‐linearity g to be a regular C¹ function; in particular we are able to treat both the case when g′(0) = 0, giving rise to a degenerate equilibrium point in the phase plane, and the singular case when g′(0) = +∞. Our results generalize previous ones due to Aronson and Weinberger [Adv. Math. 30 (1978), pp. 33–76 ], Gibbs and Murray (see Murray [Mathematical Biology, Springer‐Verlag, Berlin, 1993 ]) and McCabe , Leach and Needham [SIAM J. Appl. Math. 59 (1998), pp. 870–899 ]. Finally, we obtain our conclusions by means of a comparison‐type technique which was introduced and developed in this framework in a recent paper by the same authors.     

An energetic material model for time‐dependent ferroelectric behaviour: existence and uniqueness

We discuss rate‐independent engineering models for the multi‐dimensional behaviour of ferroelectric materials. These models capture the non‐linear and hysteretic behaviour of such materials. We show that these models can be formulated in an energetic framework which is based on the elastic and the electric displacements as reversible variables and on interior, irreversible variables like the remanent polarization. We provide quite general conditions on the constitutive laws which guarantee the existence of a solution. Under more restrictive assumptions we are also able to establish uniqueness results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CR Structures on the 3‐Sphere and the Blow‐Up of the Projective Plane

Motivated by a problem of characterizing CR‐structures on the 3‐sphere, we give a geometric construction of formal deformations of a complex surface, which is the complement of a ball in the projective plane. They are described by cohomology groups of the blow‐up X of the projective plane. Moreover it will be shown that the space of these formal deformations is an infinite dimensional space with a natural stratification by finite dimensional subspaces. This stratification re ects algebro‐geometric properties of X. It is expected that our construction will clarify the complex geometric nature of the space of non‐embeddable CR‐structures on the 3‐sphere.     

Stability of the superposition of rarefaction wave and contact discontinuity for the non‐isentropic Navier–Stokes–Poisson system

This paper is devoted to the study of the nonlinear stability of the composite wave consisting of a rarefaction wave and a viscous contact discontinuity wave of the non‐isentropic Navier–Stokes–Poisson system with free boundary. We first construct the composite wave through the quasineutral Euler equations and then prove that the composite wave is time asymptotically stable under small perturbations for the corresponding initial‐boundary value problem of the non‐isentropic Navier–Stokes–Poisson system. Only the strength of the viscous contact wave is required to be small. However, the strength of the rarefaction wave can be arbitrarily large. In our analysis, the domain decomposition plays an important role in obtaining the zero‐order energy estimates. By introducing this technique, we successfully overcome the difficulty caused by the critical terms involved with the linear term, which does not satisfy the quasineural assumption for the composite wave. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A FEM–DtN formulation for a non‐linear exterior problem in incompressible elasticity

In this paper, we combine the usual finite element method with a Dirichlet‐to‐Neumann (DtN) mapping, derived in terms of an infinite Fourier series, to study the solvability and Galerkin approximations of an exterior transmission problem arising in non‐linear incompressible 2d‐elasticity. We show that the variational formulation can be written in a Stokes‐type mixed form with a linear constraint and a non‐linear main operator. Then, we provide the uniqueness of solution for the continuous and discrete formulations, and derive a Cea‐type estimate for the associated error. In particular, our error analysis considers the practical case in which the DtN mapping is approximated by the corresponding finite Fourier series. Finally, a reliable a posteriori error estimate, well suited for adaptive computations, is also given. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamics of a ratio‐dependent stage‐structured predator‐prey model with delay

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of a time‐delay ratio‐dependent predator‐prey model with stage structure for the predator. This predator‐prey system conforms to the realistically biological environment. The existence and stability of the positive equilibrium are thoroughly analyzed, and the sufficient and necessary conditions for the stability and instability of the positive equilibrium are obtained for the case without delay. Then, the influence of delay on the dynamics of the system is investigated using the geometric criterion developed by Beretta and Kuang. 26 We show that the positive steady state can be destabilized through a Hopf bifurcation and there exist stability switches under some conditions. The formulas determining the direction and the stability of Hopf bifurcations are explicitly derived by using the center manifold reduction and normal form theory. Finally, some numerical simulations are performed to illustrate and expand our theoretical results.     

Random non‐crossing plane configurations: A conditioned Galton‐Watson tree approach

We study various models of random non‐crossing configurations consisting of diagonals of convex polygons, and focus in particular on uniform dissections and non‐crossing trees. For both these models, we prove convergence in distribution towards Aldous’ Brownian triangulation of the disk. In the case of dissections, we also refine the study of the maximal vertex degree and validate a conjecture of Bernasconi, Panagiotou and Steger. Our main tool is the use of an underlying Galton‐Watson tree structure. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 45, 236–260, 2014     

Nonlinear Stability of Expanding Star Solutions of the Radially Symmetric Mass‐Critical Euler‐Poisson System

We prove nonlinear stability of compactly supported expanding star solutions of the mass‐critical gravitational Euler‐Poisson system. These special solutions were discovered by Goldreich and Weber in 1980. The expansion rate of such solutions can be either self‐similar or non‐self‐similar (linear), and we treat both types. An important outcome of our stability results is the existence of a new class of global‐in‐time radially symmetric solutions, which are not homologous and therefore not encompassed by the existing works. Using Lagrangian coordinates we reformulate the associated free‐boundary problem as a degenerate quasilinear wave equation on a compact spatial domain. The problem is mass‐critical with respect to an invariant rescaling and the analysis is carried out in similarity variables. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New families of non‐embeddable quasi‐derived designs

The main result in this article is a method of constructing a non‐embeddable quasi‐derived design from a quasi‐derived design and an α‐resolvable design. This method is a generalization of techniques used by van Lint and Tonchev in 14 , 15 and Kageyama and Miao in 8 . As applications, we construct several new families of non‐embeddable quasi‐derived designs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 16: 263–275, 2008