A New Class of Weak Solutions of the Navier–Stokes Equations with Nonhomogeneous Data

We investigate a class of weak solutions, the so-called very weak solutions, to stationary and nonstationary Navier–Stokes equations in a bounded domain . This notion was introduced by Amann [3], [4] for the nonstationary case with nonhomogeneous boundary data leading to a very large solution class of low regularity. Here we are mainly interested in the investigation of the “largest possible” class of solutions u for the more general problem with arbitrary divergence k = div u, boundary data g = u|_∂Ω and an external force f, as weak as possible, but maintaining uniqueness. In principle, we will follow Amann’s approach.     

The Dirichlet Problem for H-Systems with Small Boundary Data: BlowUp Phenomena and Nonexistence Results

Given H:ℝ³→ℝ of class C¹ and bounded, we consider a sequence (uⁿ) of solutions of the H-system in the unit open disc satisfying the boundary condition uⁿ=γⁿ on ∂. In the first part of this paper, assuming that (uⁿ) is bounded in H¹(,ℝ³) we study the behavior of (uⁿ) when the boundary data γⁿ shrink to zero. We show that either uⁿ→0 strongly in H¹(,ℝ³) or uⁿ blows up at least one H-bubble ω, namely a nonconstant, conformal solution of the H-system on ℝ². Under additional assumptions on H, we can obtain more precise information on the blow up. In the second part of this paper we investigate the multiplicity of solutions for the Dirichlet problem on the disc with small boundary datum. We detect a family of nonconstant functions H (even close to a nonzero constant in any reasonable topology) for which the Dirichlet problem cannot admit a ``large' solution at a mountain pass level when the boundary datum is small.     

Univalent σ-Harmonic Mappings

We study mappings from ℝ² into ℝ² whose components are weak solutions to the elliptic equation in divergence form, div (σ∇u)= 0, which we call σ-harmonic mappings. We prove sufficient conditions for the univalence, i.e., injectivity, of such mappings. Moreover we prove local bounds in BMO on the logarithm of the Jacobian determinant of such univalent mappings, thus obtaining the a.e. nonvanishing of their Jacobian. In particular, our results apply to σ-harmonic mapping associated with any periodic structure and therefore they play an important role in homogenization. Accepted October 30, 2000?Published online April 23, 2001     

On a Crystalline Variational Problem, Part I:¶First Variation and Global L∞ Regularity

Let φ:ℝ ⁿ → [0,+∞[ be a given positively one-homogeneous convex function, and let ?_φ≔{φ≤ 1 }. Pursuing our interest in motion by crystalline mean curvature in three dimensions, we introduce and study the class ?_φ (ℝ ⁿ ) of “smooth” boundaries in the relative geometry induced by the ambient Banach space (ℝ ⁿ , φ). It can be seen that, even when ?_φ is a polytope, ?_φ(ℝ ⁿ ) cannot be reduced to the class of polyhedral boundaries (locally resembling ∂?_φ). Curved portions must be necessarily included and this fact (as well as the nonsmoothness of ∂?_φ) is the source of several technical difficulties related to the geometry of Lipschitz manifolds. Given a boundary δE in the class ?_φ(ℝ ⁿ ), we rigorously compute the first variation of the corresponding anisotropic perimeter, which leads to a variational problem on vector fields defined on δE. It turns out that the minimizers have a uniquely determined (intrinsic) tangential divergence on δE. We define such a divergence to be the φ-mean curvature κ_φ of δE; the function κ_φ is expected to be the initial velocity of δE, whenever δE is considered as the initial datum for the corresponding anisotropic mean curvature flow. We prove that κ_φ is bounded on δE and that its sublevel sets are characterized through a variational inequality.     

Removing Collision Singularities from Action Minimizers for the N-Body Problem with Free Boundaries

For the planar and spatial N-body problems, it has been proved by Marchal and Chenciner that solutions for the minimizing problem with fixed ends are free from interior collisions. This important result has been extended by Ferrario & Terracini to Newtonian-type problems and equivariant problems. It has also been used to construct many symmetric solutions for the N-body problem. In this paper we are interested in action minimizing solutions in function spaces with free boundaries. The function spaces are imposed with boundary conditions, such that every mass point starts and ends on two transversal proper subspaces of ℝ^d, d≥2. We will prove that solutions for this minimizing problem with free boundaries are always free from collisions, including boundary collisions. This result can be used to construct certain classes of relative periodic solutions of the N-body problem.     

On solutions of the problem in stresses with the use of Maxwell stress functions

The spatial problems of elasticity are mainly solved in displacements [1, 2], i.e., the Lamé equations are taken as the initial equations. This is related to the lack of general solutions for the system of basic equations of elasticity expressed in stresses. In this connection, a new variational statement of the problem in stresses was developed in [3, 4]; this statement consists in solving six generalized equations of compatibility for six independent components of the stress tensor, while the three equilibrium equations are transferred to the set of boundary conditions. This method is more convenient for the numerical solution of problems in stresses and has been tested when solving various boundary value problems. In the present paper, analyzing the completeness of the Saint-Venant identities and using the Maxwell stress functions, we obtain a new resolving system of three differential equations of strain compatibility for the three desired stress functions φ, ξ, and ψ. This system is an alternative to the three Lamé equilibrium equations for three desired displacement components u, v, w and is simpler in structure. Moreover, both of these systems of resolving equations can be solved by the new recursive-operator method [5, 6]. In contrast to well-known methods for constructing general solutions of linear differential equations and their systems, the solutions obtained by the recursive-operator method are constructed as operator-power series acting on arbitrary analytic functions of real variables (not necessarily harmonic), and the series coefficients are determined from recursive relations (matrix in the case of systems of equations). The arbitrary functions contained in the general solution can be determined directly either from the boundary conditions (the obtained system of inhomogeneous equations with a right-hand side can also be solved by the recursive-operator method [6]) or by choosing them from various classes of analytic functions (elementary, special); a complete set of particular solutions can be obtained in the same function classes, and the coefficients of linear combinations of particular solutions can be determined by the Trefftz method, the least-squares method, and the collocation method.     

Periodic solutions of dynamical systems

Summary In this paper we look for T-periodic solutions of dynamical systems. Particularly we consider the system whereU ɛC ¹(ℝ ⁿ x x ℝ, ℝ),U(x, t + T)=U(x,t) ∀ x ℝ ⁿ , ∀t ɛ ℝ T>0. We assume that the problem is asymptotically linear with a bounded nonlinearity. Under a resonance assumption, we find a multiplicity of T-periodic solutions for T large enough.

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Sommario In questo lavoro si cercano soluzioni periodiche di periodo T assegnato di sistemi dinamici. In particolare si considera un sistema di n equazioni differenziali del secondo ordine del tipo doveU ɛC ¹(ℝ ⁿ x x ℝ, ℝ),U(x, t + T)=U(x,t) ∀ x ℝ ⁿ , ∀t ɛ ℝ T>0. Nel caso in cui il problema sia asintoticamente lineare, con termine nonlineare limitato e in condizioni di risonanza, troviamo che esiste tale che per il sistema ha una molteplicità di soluzioni.

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Presented at the VII A.I.M.E.T.A. and supported by M.P.I. (40% and 60%).     

On the Nonexistence of Some Special Eigenfunctions for the Dirichlet Laplacian and the Lamé System

Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain in ℝ ⁿ with n ≥ 3. We prove that the Dirichlet Laplacian does not admit any eigenfunction of the form u(x) =ϕ(x′)+ψ(x _n) with x′=(x1, ..., x _n−1). The result is sharp since there are 2-d polygonal domains in which this kind of eigenfunctions does exist. These special eigenfunctions for the Dirichlet Laplacian are related to the existence of uniaxial eigenvibrations for the Lamé system with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Thus, as a corollary of this result, we deduce that there is no bounded Lipschitz domain in 3-d for which the Lamé system with Dirichlet boundary conditions admits uniaxial eigenvibrations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Vorticity and Regularity for Viscous Incompressible Flows under the Dirichlet Boundary Condition. Results and Related Open Problems

In reference [7] it is proved that the solution of the evolution Navier–Stokes equations in the whole of R ³ must be smooth if the direction of the vorticity is Lipschitz continuous with respect to the space variables. In reference [5] the authors improve the above result by showing that Lipschitz continuity may be replaced by 1/2-H?lder continuity. A central point in the proofs is to estimate the integral of the term (ω · ∇)u · ω, where u is the velocity and ω = ∇ × u is the vorticity. In reference [4] we extend the main estimates on the above integral term to solutions under the slip boundary condition in the half-space R ₊³. This allows an immediate extension to this problem of the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. The aim of these notes is to show that under the non-slip boundary condition the above integral term may be estimated as well in a similar, even simpler, way. Nevertheless, without further hypotheses, we are not able now to extend to the non slip (or adherence) boundary condition the 1/2-H?lder sufficient condition. This is not due to the “nonlinear" term (ω · ∇)u · ω but to a boundary integral which is due to the combination of viscosity and adherence to the boundary. On the other hand, by appealing to the properties of Green functions, we are able to consider here a regular, arbitrary open set Ω.      

Variants of the Stokes Problem: the Case of Anisotropic Potentials

We investigate the smoothness properties of local solutions of the nonlinear Stokes problem$\begin{eqnarray*}-\diverg \{T(\eps(v))\} + \nabla \pi &=& g \msp \mbox{on $\Omega$,}\\\diverg v&\equiv & 0 \msp \mbox{on $\Omega$,}\end{eqnarray*}$where v: ⁿ is the velocity field, $\pi$: $ denotes the pressure function, and g: ⁿ represents a system of volume forces, denoting an open subset of ⁿ . The tensor T is assumed to be the gradient of some potential f acting on symmetric matrices. Our main hypothesis imposed on f is the existence of exponents 1 < p q < \infty such that\lambda (1+|\eps|^{2})^{\frac{p-2}{2}} |\sigma|^{2} \leq D^{2}f(\eps)(\sigma ,\sigma) \leq \Lambda (1+|\eps|^{2})^{\frac{q-2}{2}} |\sigma|^{2}holds with suitable constants , > 0, i.e. the potential f is of anisotropic power growth. Under natural assumptions on p and q we prove that velocity fields from the space W ¹ _{p, loc} (; ⁿ ) are of class C ^1, on an open subset of with full measure. If n = 2, then the set of interior singularities is empty.Dedicated to O. A. Ladyzhenskaya on the occasion of her 80th birthday     

Existence,uniqueness and asymptotics of steady jets

We consider the three-dimensional flow through an aperture in a plane either with a prescribed flux or pressure drop condition. We discuss the existence and uniqueness of solutions for small data in weighted spaces and derive their complete asymptotic behaviour at infinity. Moreover, we show that each solution with a bounded Dirichlet integral, which has a certain weak additional decay, behaves like O(r ⁻²) as r=|x|→∞ and admits a wide jet region. These investigations are based on the solvability properties of the linear Stokes system in a half space ℝ ₊ ³ . To investigate the Stokes problem in ℝ ₊ ³ , we apply the Mellin transform technique and reduce the Stokes problem to the determination of the spectrum of the corresponding invariant Stokes-Beltrami operator on the hemisphere.     

Spinodal Decomposition for the¶Cahn-Hilliard Equation in Higher Dimensions:¶Nonlinear Dynamics

This paper addresses the phenomenon of spinodal decomposition for the Cahn-Hilliard equation

Compressible Navier–Stokes Model with Inflow-Outflow Boundary Conditions

In the paper [7], author gives a definition of weak solution to the nonsteady Navier–Stokes system of equations which describes compressible and isentropic flows in some bounded region Ω with influx of fluid through a part of the boundary ∂Ω. Here, we present a way for proving existence of such solutions in the same situation as in [7] under the sole hypothesis γ > 3/2 for the adiabatic constant.     

On perfectly stress field at a mixed-mode crack tip under plane and anti-plane strain

In [1], under the condition that all the perfectly plastic stress components at a crack tip are functions of ϕ only, making use of equilibrium equations, stress-strain rate relations, compatibility equations and yield condition. Lin derived the general analytical expressions of the perfectly plastic stress field at a mixed-mode crack tip under plane and anti-plane strain. But in [1] there were several restrictions on the proportionality factor γ in the stress-strain rate relations, such as supposing that γ is independent of ϕ and supposing that γ=c or cr⁻¹. In this paper, we abolish these restrictions. The cases in [1], γ=cr^d (n=0 or-1) are the special cases of this paper.     

Singular Limits of a Two-Dimensional Boundary Value Problem Arising in Corrosion Modelling

We consider the boundary value problem where Ω is a smooth and bounded domain in ℝ² and λ > 0. We prove that for any integer k ≧ 1 there exist at least two solutions u _λ with the property that the boundary flux satisfies up to subsequences λ → 0, where the ξ _j are points of ∂Ω ordered clockwise in j.     

Navier–Stokes Equations with Navier Boundary Conditions for an Oceanic Model

We consider the Navier–Stokes equations in a thin domain of which the top and bottom surfaces are not flat. The velocity fields are subject to the Navier conditions on those boundaries and the periodicity condition on the other sides of the domain. This toy model arises from studies of climate and oceanic flows. We show that the strong solutions exist for all time provided the initial data belong to a “large” set in the Sobolev space H ¹. Furthermore we show, for both the autonomous and the nonautonomous problems, the existence of a global attractor for the class of all strong solutions. This attractor is proved to be also the global attractor for the Leray–Hopf weak solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations. One issue that arises here is a nontrivial contribution due to the boundary terms. We show how the boundary conditions imposed on the velocity fields affect the estimates of the Stokes operator and the (nonlinear) inertial term in the Navier–Stokes equations. This results in a new estimate of the trilinear term, which in turn permits a short and simple proof of the existence of strong solutions for all time.     

On a Crystalline Variational Problem, Part II:¶BV Regularity and Structure of Minimizers on Facets

For a nonsmooth positively one-homogeneous convex function φ:ℝ ⁿ → [0,+∞[, it is possible to introduce the class ?_φ (ℝ ⁿ ) of smooth boundaries with respect to φ, to define their φ-mean curvature κ_φ, and to prove that, for E∈?_φ (ℝ ⁿ ), κ_φ∈L ^∞(δE) [9]. Based on these results, we continue the analysis on the structure of δE and on the regularity properties of κ_φ. We prove that a facet F of δE is Lipschitz (up to negligible sets) and that κ_φ has bounded variation on F. Further properties of the jump set of κ_φ are inspected: in particular, in three space dimensions, we relate the sublevel sets of κ_φ on F to the geometry of the Wulff shape ?_φ≔{φ≤ 1 }. Accepted October 11, 2000?Published online 14 February, 2001     

Global Equivalence for Deformable Theormoeleastic Bodies

We consider equilibria arising in a model for phase transitions which correspond to stable critical points of the constrained variational problem Here W is a double‐well potential and is a strictly convex domain. For ε small, this is closely related to the problem of partitioning Ω into two subdomains of fixed volume, where the subdomain boundaries correspond to the transitional boundary between phases. Motivated by this geometry problem, we show that in a strictly convex domain, stable critical points of the original variational problem have a connected, thin transition layer separating the two phases. This relates to work in [GM] where special geometries such as cylindrical domains were treated, and is analogous to the results in [CHo] which show that in a convex domain, stable critical points of the corresponding unconstrained problem are constant. The proof of connectivity employs tools from geometric measure theory including the co‐area formula and the isoperimetric inequality on manifolds. The thinness of the transition layer follows from a separate calculation establishing spatial decay of solutions to the pure phases. (Accepted July 15, 1996)     

A Remark on the Existence of 2-D Steady Navier–Stokes Flow in Bounded Symmetric Domain Under General Outflow Condition

Let Ω be a 2-dimensional bounded domain, symmetric with respect to the x₂-axis. The boundary has several connected components, intersecting the x₂-axis. The boundary value is symmetric with respect to the x₂-axis satisfying the general outflow condition. The existence of the symmetric solution to the steady Navier–Stokes equations was established by Amick [2] and Fujita [4]. Fujita [4] proved a key lemma concerning the solenoidal extension of the boundary value by virtual drain method. In this note, we give a different proof via elementary approach by means of the stream function.     

A Hierarchy of Plate Models Derived from Nonlinear Elasticity by Gamma-Convergence

We derive a hierarchy of plate models from three-dimensional nonlinear elasticity by Γ-convergence. What distinguishes the different limit models is the scaling of the elastic energy per unit volume ∼h^β, where h is the thickness of the plate. This is in turn related to the strength of the applied force ∼h^α. Membrane theory, derived earlier by Le Dret and Raoult, corresponds to α=β=0, nonlinear bending theory to α=β=2, von Kármán theory to α=3, β=4 and linearized vK theory to α>3. Intermediate values of α lead to certain theories with constraints. A key ingredient in the proof is a generalization to higher derivatives of our rigidity result [29] which states that for maps v:(0,1)³→ℝ³, the L² distance of ∇v from a single rotation is bounded by a multiple of the L² distance from the set SO(3) of all rotations.