The Critical Conditions in a Reactive Slab with Slowly Varying Surface Temperature

Liouville's non-linear partial differential equation is consideredfor an infinite rectangular strip domain with a slowly varyingboundary condition. The equation describes a layer of chemicallyreactive material under conditions where the resistance to surfaceheat transfer is negligible and the ambient temperature variesslowly along the surface. Symmetrical heating by a zero orderexothermic reaction is assumed. If is a small dimensionlesstemperature difference between regions where the surface temperatureis effectively constant, a perturbation series solution in may be determined provided the Frank-Kamenetskii parameter satisfies _c(). It is shown that a plausible value for thecritical parameter is _c() = _c(0) e^–e,where _c(0) = 0.878.The corresponding critical temperature distribution is shownto have a dependence on different from that for subcriticalcases.     

On a Penalty-Perturbation Theory for Plate Problems

A penalty-perturbation method previously proposed by Westbrook(J. Inst. Maths Applics (1974) 14, 79–82) for the solutionsof static bending problems for elastic plates is analysed here.The method replaces the single fourth-order biharmonic equationby a system of three second-order equations which is "singularly"perturbed with respect to a small penalty parameter . The existenceof solutions of the perturbed problem for each > 0 is establishedand the behaviour of these solutions as 0 0 is studied. Inparticular, the results show that while these solutions arecontinuous in at = 0, analyticity in at = 0 is lost exceptin special cases.     

Optimal Parameter Choice in the {theta}-Method for Parabolic Equations

The general first-order method, known as the -method, is appliedto the semi-discrete form of a parabolic equation. It is shownthat to every required local accuracy there corresponds a valueof the parameter that is optimal in the sense of allowing thelargest step for which the error remains bounded below . Anasymptotic formula for in terms of is obtained, showing thatthe maximum step-size for the optimal -method is more than twiceas large as that for the Crank-Nicolson method. A numericalexample is given, showing good agreement between theory andpractice.     

On the Slow Rotation of a Sphere about a Diameter Parallel to a Nearby Plane Wall

A method using a matched asymptotic expansions technique ispresented for obtaining the Stokes flow solution for a rigidspherical body of radius a rotating uniformly about a diameterparallel to a fixed plane wall when the minimum clearance ais very much smaller than a. An inner solution is constructedwhich is valid for the region in the neighbourhood of the nearestpoints of the sphere and the wall where the flow is stronglysheared with large velocity gradients and pressure; in thisregion the leading term of the asymptotic expansion of the solutionsatisfies the equations of lubrication theory. A matching outersolution is constructed which is valid in the remainder of thefluid where the flow is weakly sheared and it is possible toassume = 0. The forces and couples acting on the sphere andthe wall are shown to be of the form (₀+₁) log +ß₀+0(,where ₀, ₁ and ß₀ are constants which have been determinedexplicitly. By use of these results it is shown that the problemwhen the sphere rolls on the wall is not well posed.     

Approximation of Ground State Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of Dirichlet Laplacians

Let be a bounded connected open set in R^N, N 2, and let –0be the Dirichlet Laplacian defined in L²(). Let > 0 be thesmallest eigenvalue of –, and let > 0 be its correspondingeigenfunction, normalized by ||||₂ = 1. For sufficiently small>0 we let R() be a connected open subset of satisfying Let – 0 be the Dirichlet Laplacian on R(), and let >0and >0 be its ground state eigenvalue and ground state eigenfunction,respectively, normalized by ||||₂=1. For functions f definedon , we let Sf denote the restriction of f to R(). For functionsg defined on R(), we let Tg be the extension of g to satisfying 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification 47F05.     

The Magnetogasdynamic Boundary Layer on a Thermally Insulated Flat Plate

This paper examines the effect of compressibility on the flowin the boundary layer on a semi-infinite, thermally insulatedflat plate placed at zero incidence to a uniform stream of electricallyconducting gas, with an aligned magnetic field at large distancesfrom the plate. The present discussion is limited to small values of the conductivityparameter = 4µv, and the Prandtl number is taken to beunity. The latter assumption permits a simplification of theanalysis, and the former allows the dependence of the flow onthe parameters ß = µH²/4U² and M = U/cto beadequately illustrated without excessive computation. A seriessolution valid for small values of the conductivity parameterand for Mach numbers not too large is derived. Values of ß = 0.3 and 0.5, = 0.01 and 0.1 are consideredand for those values the skin friction decreases with increasingMach number, similar to the case when ß = 0. The analysissuggests that for larger values of ß the skin frictionmight even increase with the Mach number initially. This iscertainly the case with the tangential component of the magneticfield, which for ß = 0.5 exhibits a maximum at approximatelyunit Mach number. The reason for this behaviour lies in thefact that, in view of the temperature changes taking place inthe flow, the electrical conductivity and thereby the localvalue of can change by more than an order of magnitude. Thishas the effect of giving results which are akin to those forarbitrary large in incompressible flow even though the valueof based on the main stream gas properties remains low.     

BOUNDARY CONCENTRATION IN RADIAL SOLUTIONS TO A SYSTEM OF SEMILINEAR ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS

We study concentration phenomena for the system in the unit ball B₁ of ³ with Dirichlet boundaryconditions. Here , , > 0 and p > 1. We prove the existenceof positive radial solutions (, ) such that concentrates ata distance (/2)|log | away from the boundary B₁ as the parameter tends to 0. The approach is based on a combination of Lyapunov–Schmidtreduction procedure together with a variational method.     

Turning Point Problems and Resonance

Consider the boundary value problem: ²yⁿ + (xp(x) + ²f(x, ))y'+ g(x, )y = 0, y(a) = A, y(b) = B, where a < 0 < b, p(x)< p(x) < 0, and p, f, and g are analytic. We investigatethe solution of this problem for small positive values of theparameter . If-g(0, 0)/p(0) c where c N = {0, 1, 2, 3,...},then so-called resonance does not occur, and y = o(ⁿ) on closedsubintervals of (a, b), for any n N, with expected boundarylayer behaviour at the end-points. If -g(0, 0)/p(0) = c, c N, then further transformations of dependent and independentvariables may still expose resonance or non-resonance. The setof necessary conditions that is developed is compared to otherauthors' criteria, most notably, Olver's sufficiency condition,and the necessary conditions of Cook & Eckhaus, Lakin, andMatkowsky. Finally, it is proved that these conditions are necessaryfor resonance.     

Existence of Solutions of a Two-Point Free-Boundary Problem Arising in the Theory of Porous Medium Combustion

The existence of solutions of a two-point free-boundary problemarising from the theory of travelling combustion waves in aporous medium is examined. The problem comprises a third-ordernonlinear ordinary differential equation posed on an unknowninterval of finite length; four boundary conditions are given,two at either end of the interval. The equations possess a trivialsolution for all values of the bifurcation parameter . A shootingtechnique is employed to prove the existence of a nontrivialsolution for 0 < < _c and nonexistence theorems are provedfor (0, _c).     

Finite-Element Approximation of a Plasma Equilibrium Problem

The plasma problem studied is: given R⁺ find (, d, u) R ?R ? H¹() such that Let ₁ < ₂ be the first two eigenvalues of the associatedlinear eigenvalue problem: find $$\left(\lambda ,\phi \right)\in\mathrm{R;}\times {\hbox{ H }}_{0}^{1}\left(\Omega \right)$$such that For ₀(0,₂) it is well known that there exists a unique solution(₀, d₀, u₀) to the above problem. We show that the standard continuous piecewise linear Galerkinfinite-element approximatinon $$\left({\lambda }_{0},{\hbox{d }}_{0}^{k},{u}_{0}^{h}\right)$$, for ₀(0,₂), converges atthe optimal rate in the H¹, L², and L norms as h, the mesh length,tends to 0. In addition, we show that dist (, ^h)Ch² ln 1/h,where $${\Gamma }^{\left(h\right)}=\left\{x\in \Omega :{u}_{0}^{\left(h\right)}\left(x\right)=0\right\}$$.Finally we consider a more practical approximation involvingnumerical integration.     

On hearing the shape of a bounded domain with Robin boundary conditions

The asymptotic expansions of the trace of the heat kernel (t)= [sum ]_j=1 exp(-t_j) for small positive t, where {_j} _j=1 arethe eigenvalues of the negative Laplacian -_n = -[sum ]ⁿ_k=1 (/x^k)²in Rⁿ (n = 2 or 3), are studied for a general multiply connectedbounded domain which is surrounded by simply connected boundeddomains _i with smooth boundaries _i (i = 1,...,m), where smoothfunctions Y_i (i = 1,...,m) are assuming the Robin boundary conditions(n_i + Y_i) = 0 on _i. Here /n_i denote differentiations along theinward-pointing normals to _i (i = 1,...,m). Some applicationsof an ideal gas enclosed in the multiply connected bounded containerwith Neumann or Robin boundary conditions are given.     

The asymptotic solution of a family of boundary value problems involving exponentially small terms

In this paper, the authors consider the family of boundary valueproblems in the limit || 0. This problem has recently appeared as a modelfor magnetic field annihilation but the equation itself, withvariously different boundary conditions, has an extensive literature.Using a combination of asymptotic and numerical analyses, thepaper gives a comprehensive treatment of the small || problem,paying particular attention to the question of duality of solutions.For |0, this is intimately connected with the occurrence ofexponentially small terms in the asymptotic solution. When =0(1) these termsz are forced by the boundary layer at y = 1,and the techniques used to deal with this case are well knownfrom previous work on the equation. However, for small ||, acase which reveals the true nature of the duality propertiesof the asymptotic solution, these well-known methods are notapplicable, and a new approach via the initial value formulationof (*) is used. The approach is based on a scaling method whichenables the problem to be reduced to a one-parameter familyof problems of initial value type. This considerably simplifiesthe search for and construction of numerical solutions thatare used to support the asymptotic analysis. For 0, it is shownthat convergence to the =0 solution only takes place for a restrictedrange of values of a and that, for sufficiently small || thereis only one solution to the given boundary value problem.     

The Model Plasma Problem: Existence of a Solution Branch

We are interested in the model plasma problem –u = u⁺in ,u = –d on , _au⁺ dx=j where is a bounded domain in with boundary ; here, j isa given positive number, the function u and the positive number are the unknowns of the problem, and d is a real parameter.Using a variant of the implicit function theorem, we can provethe existence of a global solution branch parametrized by d.The method has the advantage that it can be used for analysingthe approximation of the above problem by a finite-element method.     

Rate of convergence of numerical approximations to homoclinic bifurcation points

For x=f (x, ), x Rⁿ, R, having a hyperbolic or semihyperbolicequilibrium p(), we study the numerical approximation of parametervalues ^* at which there is an orbit homoclinic to p(). We approximate^* by solving a finite-interval boundary value problem on J=[T_–,T₊], T_–<0<T₊, with boundary conditions that sayx(T_–) and x(T₊) are in approximations to appropriate invariantmanifolds of p(). A phase condition is also necessary to makethe solution unique. Using a lemma of Xiao-Biao Lin, we improve,for certain phase conditions, existing estimates on the rateof convergence of the computed homoclinic bifurcation parametervalue , to the true value ^*. The estimates we obtain agree withthe rates of convergence observed in numerical experiments.Unfortunately, the phase condition most commonly used in numericalwork is not covered by our results.     

Spectra of graph neighborhoods and scattering

Let (G)_>0 be a family of ‘-thin’ Riemannian manifoldsmodeled on a finite metric graph G, for example, the -neighborhoodof an embedding of G in some Euclidean space with straight edges.We study the asymptotic behavior of the spectrum of the Laplace–Beltramioperator on G, as 0, for various boundary conditions. We obtaincomplete asymptotic expansions for the kth eigenvalue and theeigenfunctions, uniformly for kC^–1, in terms of scatteringdata on a non-compact limit space. We then use this to determinethe quantum graph which is to be regarded as the limit object,in a spectral sense, of the family (G). Our method is a directconstruction of approximate eigenfunctions from the scatteringand graph data, and the use of a priori estimates to show thatall eigenfunctions are obtained in this way.     

Elliptic Problems Involving Phase Boundaries Satisfying a Curvature Condition

Two theorems related to equilibrium free-boundary problems arepresented. One arises as a time-independent solution to thephase-field equations. The other is the relevant time-independentproblem for the Stefan model, modified for the surface tensioneffect. It also serves as a preliminary result for the phase-fieldformulation. Under appropriate conditions, we prove that, givenan appropriate positive constant and a smooth function u: R;,where is an annular domain in R², there exists a curve suchthat u(x)=—K(x) for all x , where K is the curvature.Using this result, we prove the existence of solutions to O=²+ ?(—³) + 2u that have a transition layer behaviour (from=—1 to =+1) for small and make the transition on thecurve . This proves there exist solutions to the phase fieldmodel that satisfy a Gibbs-Thompson relation.     

A Criticality Criterion for Thermal Explosions in Well-stirred Systems with Reactant Consumption

The autonomous differential equations for the temperature andreactant consumption in a first-order well-stirred exothermicreaction are considered. An examination of the phase-plane solutionsallows the qualitative behaviour of the Semenov number as afunction of maximum temperature rise ^* to be established. Inthe limit of infinite adiabatic temperature rise (B) and zeroactivation energy parameter ( = 0), the relationship between and stationary temperature _s is known to be e_¹ = _s. Criticalityarises at the maximum of (_s) and leads to the critical Semenovvalues (_s)_cr = 1, _cr = e^–1. For sufficiently large B,it is shown that the (^*) curve has a bifurcation at ^* = 1, withthe upper branch monotonically increasing and the lower branchmonotonically decreasing for ^* > 1. In the limit B thesebecome respectively the straight line = e^–1, _s 1 andthe unstable branch of = _se^–1, _s 1 and the unstablebranch of = _s e^–. Criticality for finite B is definedas occurring at the bifurcation, namely ^*_cr = 1, with _cr(B)the value of at this point. Values of these Semenoy numbersare obtainable from the numerical calculations of Boddingtonet al. [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. (1983), 390, 13–30]. The newcriterion is applied to an approximate phase-plane solution.The corresponding critical parameter is found to be _cr = e^–1[1+B^–(2–e^–1)+O(B^–1)].     

The large deformation of nonlinearly elastic rings in a two-dimensional compressible flow

The nonlinear nonlocal system of the equilibrium equations ofan elastic ring under the action of an external two-dimensionaluniformly subsonic potential barotropic steady-state gas flowis considered. The configurations of the elastic ring are identifiedby a pair of functions (, ). The simple curve represents theshape of the ring and the real-valued function identifies theorientation of the material sections of the ring. The pressurefield on the ring depends nonlocally on , and on two parametersU and P which represent the pressure and the velocity at infinity.The system is shown to be equivalent to a fixed-point problem,which is then treated with continuation methods. It is shownthat the solution branch ensuing from certain equilibrium states((₀, ₀), 0, P₀) in the solution-parameter space of ((₀, ₀),0, P₀) either approaches the boundary of the admissible ((,), U,p)'s in a well-defined sense, or is unbounded, or is homotopicallynontrivial in the sense that there exists a continuous map from the branch to a two-dimensional sphere which is not homotopicin the sphere to a constant, while restricted to the branchminus ((₀, ₀), 0, P₀) is homotopic to a constant in the sphere.Furthermore, by fixing the pressure parameter at P₀ and by consideringthe one-parameter problem in ((, ), U), the following holds.Every hyperplane in the solution-parameter space of the ((,), U)'s which contains the equilibrium state ((₀, ₀), 0) anddoes not include a welldetermined one-dimensional subspace intersectsthe solution branch above at a point different from ((₀, ₀),0).     

An analogue of Berry's conjecture for the phase in fractal obstacle scattering

In this paper, the authors consider the high-frequency asymptoticsof the phase s() of acoustic waves scattered by an obstacleRⁿ with fractal boundary. Under certain conditions, it is provedthat if is –Minkowski measurable with –Minkowskimeasure µ then there exists a positive constant C_n, dependingonlyon n and such that where     

The Decay of Eddy-currents in Thin Sheets and Related Water-wave Problems

The decay of the eddy-currents that are induced in a thin, uniform,imperfectly-conducting sheet by switching off the source ofan external magnetic field is investigated. For the two-dimensionalproblem of an infinite strip the (non-dimensional) decay constants_n and eddy-current distributions i_n(x) are the eigenvalues andeigenfunctions of the integral equation with the constraint. For the circular disc the corresponding equation is where and K and E are complete elliptic integrals. For both problemsthe initial eddy-currents have inverse-square-root singularitiesat the edges but during their decay the eddy currents are finiteat the edges and the normal magnetic fields have logarithmicsingularities there. Numerical results are given for variousinitial-value problems. The eddy current problems are closely related to water-waveproblems in which there is a strip-shaped or circular aperturein a horizontal rigid dock. If _n and _n are the decay constantsand magnetic scalar potentials for the strip and _n and _n theangular frequencies and velocity potentials for the normal modesin the strip-shaped aperture, then _n =_n² and _n and _n are thereal and imaginary parts respectively of a holomorphic function.The velocities in the normal modes are deduced from the solutionof the eddy-current problem and are found to agree with resultsgiven in Miles (1972). For circular geometries the eigenvaluesand eigenfunctions of the axisymmetric eddy-current problemare the same as those of the water-wave problem that has angularvariation eⁱ; where (, , z) are cylindrical polar co-ordinateslocated at the centre of the basin.