The function of diorism in ancient Greek analysis

This paper is a contribution to our knowledge of Greek geometric analysis. In particular, we investigate the aspect of analysis know as diorism, which treats the conditions, arrangement, and totality of solutions to a given geometric problem, and we claim that diorism must be understood in a broader sense than historians of mathematics have generally admitted. In particular, we show that diorism was a type of mathematical investigation, not only of the limitation of a geometric solution, but also of the total number of solutions and of their arrangement. Because of the logical assumptions made in the analysis, the diorism was necessarily a separate investigation which could only be carried out after the analysis was complete.     

Nonlinear bending analysis of FGM elliptical plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations

Nonlinear bending analysis is first presented for functionally graded elliptical plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations, and investigations on FGM elliptical plates with immovable simply supported edge are also new in literature. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent and graded in the thickness direction. The governing equations of a functionally graded plate are based on Reddy’s high-order shear deformation plate theory that includes thermal effects. Ritz method is employed to determine the central deflection-load and bending moment-load curves, the validity can be confirmed by comparison with related researchers’ results, and it is worth noting that the forms of approximate solutions are well-chosen in consideration of both simplicity and accuracy. Influences played by different supported boundaries, thermal environmental conditions, foundation stiffness, ratio of major to minor axis and volume fraction index are discussed in detail.     

On a hyperbolic equation arising in electrostatic MEMS

We consider the initial–boundary value problem of a damped wave equation with singular nonlinearity, which describes an electrostatic micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device. The results of the pull-in voltage λ^?${\lambda }^{?}$ being the critical threshold for global existence and quenching are obtained: if the applied voltage λ<λ^?$\lambda <{\lambda }^{?}$, then the equation admits a unique global small solution that exponentially converges to the minimal steady state, while large solution may quench in finite time; if λ>λ^?$\lambda >{\lambda }^{?}$, then any solution quenches in finite time. Finally, in the sense of the viscosity dominated limit, the asymptotic relation of solutions between the hyperbolic equation and the parabolic one is investigated. Also the related error estimates in arbitrary order are derived.     

On the free vibration response of rectangular plates,partially supported on elastic foundation

Rectangular plates on distributed elastic foundations are widely employed in footings and raft foundations of variety of structures. In particular, mounted columns and single footings may partially occupy the rectangular plate of any kind.     

Buckling and free vibration analysis of thick rectangular plates resting on elastic foundation using mixed finite element and differential quadrature method

In this article, a combination of the finite element (FE) and differential quadrature (DQ) methods is used to solve the eigenvalue (buckling and free vibration) equations of rectangular thick plates resting on elastic foundations. The elastic foundation is described by the Pasternak (two-parameter) model. The three dimensional, linear and small strain theory of elasticity and energy principle are employed to derive the governing equations. The in-plane domain is discretized using two dimensional finite elements. The spatial derivatives of equations in the thickness direction are discretized in strong-form using DQM. Buckling and free vibration of rectangular thick plates of various thicknesses to width and aspect ratios with Pasternak elastic foundation are investigated using the proposed FE-DQ method. The results obtained by the mixed method have been verified by the few analytical solutions in the literature. It is concluded that the mixed FE-DQ method has good convergancy behavior; and acceptable accuracy can be obtained by the method with a reasonable degrees of freedom.     

Nonlinear Liouville theorems for some critical problems on H-type groups

In this paper, we provide a non-existence result for a semilinear sub-elliptic Dirichlet problem with critical growth on the half-spaces of any group of Heisenberg-type. Our result improves a recent theorem in (Math. Ann. 315 (3) (2000) 453).     

Smoothness properties of Newtonian potentials in the study of elastic plates

The Hölder continuity and differentiability are investigated of Newtonian potentials arising in the theory of bending of elastic plates with transverse shear deformation. These properties play an essential role in the study by means of boundary integral equation techniques of boundary value problems for the equilibrium and harmonic oscillation states, and in the construction of associated boundary element methods.     

Determination of the body force of a two-dimensional isotropic elastic body

Let Ω$\Omega$ represent a two-dimensional isotropic elastic body. We consider the problem of determining the body force F$F$ whose form φ(t)(_f1(x),_f2(x))$\phi \left(t\right)(f_1\left(x\right),f_2\left(x\right))$ with φ$\phi$ be given inexactly. The problem is nonlinear and ill-posed. Using the Fourier transform, the methods of Tikhonov’s regularization and truncated integration, we construct a regularized solution from the data given inexactly and explicitly derive the error estimate.     

A power series solution for vibration and complex modal stress analyses of variable thickness viscoelastic two-directional FGM circular plates on elastic foundations

In the present paper, a power series solution is developed for free vibration and damping analyses of viscoelastic functionally graded plates with variable thickness on elastic foundations. It is assumed that the material properties of the functionally graded material (FGM) vary in the transverse and radial directions, simultaneously. Therefore, the presented solution can be employed for the transversely-graded and radially-graded viscoelastic circular plates, as special cases. In addition to the edge conditions, the plate may be resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation. The complex modulus approach in combination with the elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle is employed to obtain the solution for various edge conditions. A sensitivity analysis including effects of various edge conditions, geometric parameters, coefficients of the elastic foundation, parameters of the functionally graded material, and material loss factor is carried out. In the present paper, concept of the complex modal stresses of the viscoelastic plates is discussed in detail.     

Identifying the elastic moduli of composite plates by using high-order theories

The study aims to predict the elastic and damping properties of composite laminated plates from measured dynamical characteristics. The elastic constants and damping properties of a laminated element are determined by using experimental data and the results of a multilevel theoretical approach. Solution examples for particular problems are given. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 35–50, January–February, 2008.     

Formation of delta shocks and vacuum states in the vanishing pressure limit of Riemann solutions to the perturbed Aw-Rascle model

A traffic flow model describing the formation and dynamics of traffic jams was introduced by Berthelin et al., which consists of a constrained pressureless gas dynamics system and can be derived from the Aw-Rascle model under the constraint condition ρ?ρ^? by letting the traffic pressure vanish. In this paper, we give up this constraint condition and consider the following form

     

Homogenization and behaviour of optimal controls for the wave equation in domains with oscillating boundary

In this paper the asymptotic behaviour of a second-order linear evolution problem is studied in a domain, a part of wich has an oscillating boundary. An homogeneous Neumann condition is given on the whole boundary of the domain. Moreover the behaviour of associated optimal control problem is analyzed.      

Periodic solutions of a periodically forced and undamped beam resting on weakly elastic bearings

We study the problem of existence of periodic solutions to a partial differential equation modelling the behavior of an undamped beam subject to an external periodic force. We assume that the ordinary differential equation associated to the first two modes of vibration of the beam has a symmetric homoclinic solution. By using methods borrowed by dynamical systems theory we prove that, if the period is non resonant with the (infinitely many) internal periods of the PDE, the equation has a weak periodic solution of the same period as the external force. In particular we obtain continua of periodic solutions for the undamped beam in absence of external forces. This result may be considered as an infinite dimensional analogue of a result obtained in [16] concerning accumulation of periodic solutions to homoclinic orbits in finite dimensional reversible systems. Matteo Franca: Partially supported by G.N.A.M.P.A. – INdAM (Italy).     

Identifying the elastic moduli of composite plates by using high-order theories. 2. Theoretical-experimental approach

The identification of elastic properties of laminated composite plates from measured eigenfrequencies has been performed. The elastic moduli of the laminates were determined by using a multilevel modeling and a two-step identification procedure. At the first step, based on a genetic algorithm, the Young’s and shear moduli were found, but at the second one, by minimizing an error function, the values of transverse moduli were refined. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 207–216, March–April, 2008.     

On the discretization of a partial differential equation in the neighborhood of a periodic orbit

Sumamry This article is concerned with the comparison of the dynamic of a partial differential equation and its time discretization. We restrict our attention to the neighborhood of a hyperbolic periodic orbit. We show that the discretization possesses an invariant closed curve near the periodic orbit and that the trajectories of the semigroups defined by the partial differential equations and its approximation are close in a sense to be precised provided that different data are allowed. This answers partly an open problem posed in [4]. Examples of application to dissipative partial equations are provided.     

Asymptotically self-similar solutions of the damped wave equation

We consider the damped hyperbolic equation

(1)     

The Square of Opposition and the Four Fundamental Choices

Each predicate of the Aristotelian square of opposition includes the word “is”. Through a twofold interpretation of this word the square includes both classical logic and non-classical logic. All theses embodied by the square of opposition are preserved by the new interpretation, except for contradictories, which are substituted by incommensurabilities. Indeed, the new interpretation of the square of opposition concerns the relationships among entire theories, each represented by means of a characteristic predicate. A generalization of the square of opposition is achieved by not adjoining, according to two Leibniz’ suggestions about human mind, one more choice about the kind of infinity; i.e., a choice which was unknown by Greek’s culture, but which played a decisive role for the birth and then the development of modern science. This essential innovation of modern scientific culture explains why in modern times the Aristotelian square of opposition was disregarded. This work was completed with the support of our -pert.     

On the space of B-convex compacta

We investigate topology of the space of B-convex compacta of finite-dimensional Banach space (the notion of B-convexity space was introduced by M. Lassak). An answer to the question of M. van de Vel about a characterization of continuity of the closed B-convex hull is given. We prove that the space of B-convex compacta is a Q-manifold iff the map of the closed B-convex hull is continuous.