A class of hemivariational inequalities for nonstationary Navier–Stokes equations

This paper is devoted to the study of a class of hemivariational inequalities for the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations, including both boundary hemivariational inequalities and domain hemivariational inequalities. The hemivariational inequalities are analyzed in the framework of an abstract hemivariational inequality. Solution existence for the abstract hemivariational inequality is explored through a limiting procedure for a temporally semi-discrete scheme based on the backward Euler difference of the time derivative, known as the Rothe method. It is shown that solutions of the Rothe scheme exist, they contain a weakly convergent subsequence as the time step-size approaches zero, and any weak limit of the solution sequence is a solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality. It is further shown that under certain conditions, a solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality is unique and the solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality depends continuously on the problem data. The results on the abstract hemivariational inequality are applied to hemivariational inequalities associated with the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations.     

Browder-Tikhonov regularization for a class of evolution second order hemivariational inequalities

In this paper, we consider a class of evolution second order hemivariational inequalities with non-coercive operators which are assumed to be known approximately. Using the so-called Browder-Tikhonov regularization method, we prove that the regularized evolution hemivariational inequality problem is solvable. We construct a sequence based on the solvability of the regularized evolution hemivariational inequality problem and show that every weak cluster of this sequence is a solution for the evolution second order hemivariational inequality.     

A Heuristic Method for Nonconvex Optimization in Mechanics: Conceptual Idea, Theoretical Justification, Engineering Applications

Structures involving nonmonotone, possibly multivalued reaction-displacement or stress-strain laws cannot be effectively treated by the numerical methods for classical non-linearities. In this paper we make use of the fact that these problems have as a variational formulation a hemivariational inequality, leading to a noncovex optimization problem. A new method is proposed which approximates the nonmonotone problem by a series of monotone ones. The method constitutes an iterative scheme for the approximation of the solutions of the corresponding hemivariational inequality. A simple numerical example demonstrates the con-ceptual idea of the proposed numerical method. In the sequel the method is applied on an engineering problem concerning the ultimate strength analysis of an eccentric braced steel frame.     

Minimization principles for elliptic hemivariational inequalities

In this paper, we explore conditions under which certain elliptic hemivariational inequalities permit equivalent minimization principles. It is shown that for an elliptic variational–hemivariational inequality, under the usual assumptions that guarantee the solution existence and uniqueness, if an additional condition is satisfied, the solution of the variational–hemivariational inequality is also the minimizer of a corresponding energy functional. Then, two variants of the equivalence result are given, that are more convenient to use for applications in contact mechanics and in numerical analysis of the variational–hemivariational inequality. When the convex terms are dropped, the results on the elliptic variational–hemivariational inequalities are reduced to that on “pure” elliptic hemivariational inequalities. Finally, two representative examples from contact mechanics are discussed to illustrate application of the theoretical results.     

Minimax principles for elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities

In this paper, minimax principles are explored for elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities. Under certain conditions, a saddle-point formulation is shown to be equivalent to a mixed hemivariational–variational inequality. While the minimax principle is of independent interest, it is employed in this paper to provide an elementary proof of the solution existence of the mixed hemivariational–variational inequality. Theoretical results are illustrated in the applications of two contact problems.     

Convergence analysis of a minimax method for finding multiple solutions of hemivariational inequality in Hilbert space

In 2013, a minimax method for finding saddle points of locally Lipschitz continuous functional was designed (Yao Math. Comp. 82 2087–2136 2013). The method can be applied to numerically solve hemivariational inequality for multiple solutions. Its subsequence and sequence convergence results in functional analysis were established in the same paper. But, since these convergence results do not consider discretization, they are not convergence results in numerical analysis. In this paper, we point out what approximation problem is, when this minimax method is used to solve hemivariational inequality and the finite element method is used in discretization. Computation of the approximation problem is discussed, numerical experiment is carried out and its global convergence is verified. Finally, as element size goes to zero, convergence of solutions of the approximation problem to solutions of hemivariational inequality is proved.     

Well-posedness for a Class of Variational–Hemivariational Inequalities with Perturbations

In this paper, we consider an extension of well-posedness for a minimization problem to a class of variational–hemivariational inequalities with perturbations. We establish some metric characterizations for the well-posed variational–hemivariational inequality and give some conditions under which the variational–hemivariational inequality is strongly well-posed in the generalized sense. Under some mild conditions, we also prove the equivalence between the well-posedness of variational–hemivariational inequality and the well-posedness of corresponding inclusion problem.     

Well-posedness of a general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities

In this paper, well-posedness of a general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities is studied. This general class includes several classes of the previously studied elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities as special cases. Moreover, our approach of the well-posedness analysis is easily accessible, unlike those in the published papers on elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities so far. First, prior theoretical results are recalled for a class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities featured by the presence of a potential operator. Then the well-posedness results are extended through a Banach fixed-point argument to the same class of inequalities without the potential operator assumption. The well-posedness results are further extended to a more general class of elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities through another application of the Banach fixed-point argument. The theoretical results are illustrated in the study of a contact problem. For comparison, the contact problem is studied both as an elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequality and as an elliptic variational–hemivariational inequality.     

Existence results for a class of hemivariational inequality problems on Hadamard manifolds

In this paper, a class of hemivariational inequality problems are introduced and studied on Hadamard manifolds. Using the properties of Clarke’s generalized directional derivative and Fan-KKM lemma, an existence theorem of solution in connection with the hemivariational inequality problem is obtained when the constraint set is bounded. By employing some coercivity conditions and the properties of Clarke’s generalized directional derivative, an existence result and the boundedness of the set of solutions for the underlying problem are investigated when the constraint set is unbounded. Moreover, a sufficient and necessary condition for ensuring the nonemptiness of the set of solutions concerned with the hemivariational inequality problem is also given.     

Some Convergence Results for Evolution Hemivariational Inequalities

This paper is devoted to the regularization of a class of evolution hemivariational inequalities. The operator involved is taken to be non-coercive and the data are assumed to be known approximately. Under the assumption that the evolution hemivariational inequality be solvable, a weakly convergent approximation procedure is designed by means of the so-called Browder-Tikhonov regularization method.     

Periodic solutions to history-dependent differential hemivariational inequalities with applications

In this article, we investigate a hybrid model combined by a parabolic differential equation and a parabolic hemivariational inequality (so-called differential hemivariational inequality of parabolic–parabolic type) in general infinite dimensional spaces which includes the history-dependent operator. The solvability of initial value problems as well as the periodic problems of the hemivariational inequality and the differential hemivariational inequality have been proved. In application, we study a contact problem with normal compliance driven by a history-dependent dynamical system.     

Strong convergence results for hemivariational inequalities

The purpose of this paper is to study a regularization method of solutions of ill-posed problems involving hemivariational inequalities in Banach spaces. Under the assumption that the hemivariational inequality is solvable, a strongly convergent approximation procedure is designed by means of the so-called Browder-Tikhonov regularization method. Our results generalize and extend the previously known theorems.     

Optimal Shape Design Problems for a Class of Systems Described by Parabolic Hemivariational Inequality

Optimal shape design problems for systems governed by a parabolic hemivariational inequality are considered. A general existence result for this problem is established by the mapping method.     

Optimal Shape Design Problems for a Class of Systems Described by Hemivariational Inequalities

Optimal shape design problems for systems governed by an elliptic hemivariational inequality are considered. A general existence result for this problem is established by the mapping method.     

Vanishing viscosity for hemivariational inequalities modeling dynamic problems in elasticity

In this paper we consider a mathematical model describing a dynamic linear elastic contact problem with nonmonotone skin effects. The subdifferential multivalued and multidimensional reaction–displacement law is employed. We treat an evolution hemivariational inequality of hyperbolic type which is a weak formulation of this mechanical problem. We establish a result on the existence of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the hemivariational inequality. This result is a consequence of an existence theorem for second order evolution inclusion. For the latter, using the parabolic regularization method, we obtain the solution as a limit when the viscosity term tends to zero.     

Dynamic thermoviscoelastic problem with friction and damage

In this paper we present a model of dynamic frictional contact between a thermoviscoelastic body and a foundation. The thermoviscoelastic constitutive law includes a temperature effect described by the parabolic equation with the subdifferential boundary condition and a damage effect described by the parabolic inclusion with the homogeneous Neumann boundary condition. Contact is modeled with bilateral condition and is associated to a subdifferential frictional law. The variational formulation of the problem leads to a system of hyperbolic hemivariational inequality for the displacement, parabolic hemivariational inequality for the temperature and parabolic variational inequality for the damage. The existence of a unique weak solution is proved by using recent results from the theory of hemivariational inequalities, variational inequalities, and a fixed point argument.     

Well-posedness of constrained evolutionary differential variational–hemivariational inequalities with applications

A system of a first order history-dependent evolutionary variational– hemivariational inequality with unilateral constraints coupled with a nonlinear ordinary differential equation in a Banach space is studied. Based on a fixed point theorem for history dependent operators, results on the well-posedness of the system are proved. Existence, uniqueness, continuous dependence of the solution on the data, and the solution regularity are established. Two applications of dynamic problems from contact mechanics illustrate the abstract results. First application is a unilateral viscoplastic frictionless contact problem which leads to a hemivariational inequality for the velocity field, and the second one deals with a viscoelastic frictional contact problem which is described by a variational inequality.     

On constrained hemivariational inequalities and their approximation

We prove the existence of a solution of a constrained hemivariational inequality, and, develop a fully discrete approximation of it. The relation between the constrained hemivariational inequality and a problem of finding substationary points of the corresponding potential function is also studied.     

Hemivariational inequality approach to constrained problems for star-shaped admissible sets

The hemivariational inequality approach is applied to establish the existence of solutions to a large class of nonconvex constrained problems in a reflexive Banach space. The admissible sets are supposed to be star-shaped with respect to a ball. Due to a discontinuity property of the Clarke directional differential related to the corresponding distance functions, the proposed method permits one to attain the solution without passing to zero with the penalization parameter. Some applications to nonconvex constrained variational problems illustrate the theory.     

Optimal Control of Parabolic Hemivariational Inequalities

In this paper we study the optimal control of systems driven by parabolic hemivariational inequalities. First, we establish the existence of solutions to a parabolic hemivariational inequality which contains nonlinear evolution operator. Introducing a control variable in the second member and in the multivalued term, we prove the upper semicontinuity property of the solution set of the inequality. Then we use this result and the direct method of the calculus of variations to show the existence of optimal admissible state–control pairs.