On the definition of fractional derivatives in rheology

During the last two decades fractional calculus has been increasingly applied to physics, especially to rheology. It is well known that there are obivious differences between Riemann-Liouville (R-L) definition and Caputo definition, which are the two most commonly used definitions of fractional derivatives. The multiple definitions of fractional derivatives have hindered the application of fractional calculus in rheology. In this paper, we clarify that the R-L definition and Caputo definition are both rheologically unreasonable with the help of the mechanical analogues of the fractional element model. We also find that to make them more reasonable rheologically, the lower terminals of both definitions should be put to ?∞. We further prove that the R-L definition with lower terminal ?∞ and the Caputo definition with lower terminal ?∞ are equivalent in the differentiation of functions that are smooth enough and functions that have finite number of singular points. Thus we can define the fractional derivatives in rheology as the R-L derivatives with lower terminal ?∞ (or, equivalently, the Caputo derivatives with lower terminal ?∞ ) not only for steady-state processes, but also for transient processes.     

Analytical solution for the time-fractional heat conduction equation in spherical coordinate system by the method of variable separation

In this paper,using the fractional Fourier law,we obtain the fractional heat conduction equation with a time-fractional derivative in the spherical coordinate system.The method of variable separation is used to solve the timefractional heat conduction equation.The Caputo fractional derivative of the order 0 < α≤ 1 is used.The solution is presented in terms of the Mittag-Leffler functions.Numerical results are illustrated graphically for various values of fractional derivative.     

Bifurcations of Heteroclinic Orbits

The search for traveling wave solutions of a semilinear diffusion partial differential equation can be reduced to the search for heteroclinic solutions of the ordinary differential equation ü − cu̇ + f(u) = 0, where c is a positive constant and f is a nonlinear function. A heteroclinic orbit is a solution u(t) such that u(t) → γ ₁ as t → −∞ and u(t) → γ ₂ as t → ∞ where γ ₁, γ ₂ are zeros of f. We study the existence of heteroclinic orbits under various assumptions on the nonlinear function f and their bifurcations as c is varied. Our arguments are geometric in nature and so we make only minimal smoothness assumptions. We only assume that f is continuous and that the equation has a unique solution to the initial value problem. Under these weaker smoothness conditions we reprove the classical result that for large c there is a unique positive heteroclinic orbit from 0 to 1 when f(0) = f(1) = 0 and f(u) > 0 for 0 < u < 1. When there are more zeros of f, there is the possibility of bifurcations of the heteroclinic orbit as c varies. We give a detailed analysis of the bifurcation of the heteroclinic orbits when f is zero at the five points −1 < −θ < 0 < θ < 1 and f is odd. The heteroclinic orbit that tends to 1 as t → ∞ starts at one of the three zeros, −θ, 0, θ as t → −∞. It hops back and forth among these three zeros an infinite number of times in a predictable sequence as c is varied.     

On the generalized Cauchy function and new Conjecture on its exterior singularities

This article studies on Cauchy’s function f (z) and its integral, (2πi)J[ f (z)] ≡■C f (t)dt/(t z) taken along a closed simple contour C, in regard to their comprehensive properties over the entire z = x + iy plane consisted of the simply connected open domain D + bounded by C and the open domain D outside C. (1) With f (z) assumed to be C n (n < ∞-times continuously differentiable) z ∈ D + and in a neighborhood of C, f (z) and its derivatives f (n) (z) are proved uniformly continuous in the closed domain D + = [D + + C]. (2) Cauchy’s integral formulas and their derivatives z ∈ D + (or z ∈ D ) are proved to converge uniformly in D + (or in D = [D +C]), respectively, thereby rendering the integral formulas valid over the entire z-plane. (3) The same claims (as for f (z) and J[ f (z)]) are shown extended to hold for the complement function F(z), defined to be C n z ∈ D and about C. (4) The uniform convergence theorems for f (z) and F(z) shown for arbitrary contour C are adapted to find special domains in the upper or lower half z-planes and those inside and outside the unit circle |z| = 1 such that the four general- ized Hilbert-type integral transforms are proved. (5) Further, the singularity distribution of f (z) in D is elucidated by considering the direct problem exemplified with several typ- ical singularities prescribed in D . (6) A comparative study is made between generalized integral formulas and Plemelj’s formulas on their differing basic properties. (7) Physical sig- nificances of these formulas are illustrated with applicationsto nonlinear airfoil theory. (8) Finally, an unsolved inverse problem to determine all the singularities of Cauchy function f (z) in domain D , based on the continuous numerical value of f (z) z ∈ D + = [D + + C], is presented for resolution as a conjecture.     

Steady mixed convection boundary-layer flow over a vertical flat surface in a porous medium filled with water at 4°C: variable surface heat flux

The steady mixed convection boundary-layer flow over a vertical impermeable surface in a porous medium saturated with water at 4°C (maximum density) when the surface heat flux varies as x ^m and the velocity outside the boundary layer varies as x ^(1+2m)/2, where x measures the distance from the leading edge, is discussed. Assisting and opposing flows are considered with numerical solutions of the governing equations being obtained for general values of the flow parameters. For opposing flows, there are dual solutions when the mixed convection parameter λ is greater than some critical value λ _c (dependent on the power-law index m). For assisting flows, solutions are possible for all values of λ. A lower bound on m is found, m > −1 being required for solutions. The nature of the critical point λ _c is considered as well as various limiting forms; the forced convection limit (λ = 0), the free convection limit (λ → ∞) and the limits as m → ∞ and as m → −1.     

Special case of a traveling wave in one model of a multicomponent medium

The Kuropatenko model for a multicomponent medium whose components are polytropic gases is considered. It is assumed that, as x → ±∞, the multicomponent medium is in a homogeneous state with constant gas-dynamic parameters — velocity, pressure, and temperature. For the traveling wave flows, conditions similar to the Hugoniot conditions are obtained and used to uniquely determine the flow parameters for x → −∞ from the flow parameters x → +∞ and traveling wave velocity. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 39–47, July–August, 2009.     

ON THE CRITICAL POINTS OF THE MAP Fp:X→‖AXB-C‖pp

Suppose A,B and C are the bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space H, when A has a generalized inverse A^- such that (AA^-)^*=AA^- and B has a generalized inverse B^- such that (B^-B)^*=B^-B,the general characteristic forms for the critical points of the map F_p:X^→‖AXB-C‖_p^p(1p=2. Similarly, the same question has been discussed for several operators.     

Fractional conservation laws in optimal control theory

Using the recent formulation of Noether’s theorem for the problems of the calculus of variations with fractional derivatives, the Lagrange multiplier technique, and the fractional Euler–Lagrange equations, we prove a Noether-like theorem to the more general context of the fractional optimal control. As a corollary, it follows that in the fractional case the autonomous Hamiltonian does not define anymore a conservation law. Instead, it is proved that the fractional conservation law adds to the Hamiltonian a new term which depends on the fractional-order of differentiation, the generalized momentum and the fractional derivative of the state variable. Partially presented at FDA ’06—2nd IFAC Workshop on Fractional Differentiation and its Applications, 19–21 July 2006, Porto, Portugal.     

Entire Solutions with Merging Fronts to Reaction–Diffusion Equations

We deal with a reaction–diffusion equation u _t = u _xx + f(u) which has two stable constant equilibria, u = 0, 1 and a monotone increasing traveling front solution u = φ(x + ct) (c > 0) connecting those equilibria. Suppose that u = a (0 < a < 1) is an unstable equilibrium and that the equation allows monotone increasing traveling front solutions u = ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) (c ₁ < 0) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) (c ₂ > 0) connecting u = 0 with u = a and u = a with u = 1, respectively. We call by an entire solution a classical solution which is defined for all . We prove that there exists an entire solution such that for t≈ − ∞ it behaves as two fronts ψ₁(x + c ₁ t) and ψ₂(x + c ₂ t) on the left and right x-axes, respectively, while it converges to φ(x + ct) as t→∞. In addition, if c > − c ₁, we show the existence of an entire solution which behaves as ψ₁( − x + c ₁ t) in and φ(x + ct) in for t≈ − ∞.     

Analyticity and Gevrey-Class Regularity for the Second-Grade Fluid Equations

We address the global persistence of analyticity and Gevrey-class regularity of solutions to the two and three-dimensional visco-elastic second-grade fluid equations. We obtain an explicit novel lower bound on the radius of analyticity of the solutions that does not vanish as t → ∞, and which is independent of the Rivlin–Ericksen material parameter α. Applications to the damped incompressible Euler equations are also given.     

Construction of wavelet bases with vanishing movement

IntroductionFourieranalysisisanimpotenttoolinpuremath.andappliedmath.,fromwhichOrthogonalbasesinspaceLZcanbeconstl'Uctedstartingfrome'".Nevertheless,e'"hasnolocality,soFourieranalysiscannotbeusedtolocalityanalysis.Asacontrast,waveletpreservestheadvantagesofFourieranalysis,andmeanwhileamendsthedisadvantages,fromwhich,orthogonalbasesofspaceLZcanbebuildedstartingfromamotherwavelethavingnormalityandlocality,whichmakestheProjectonthebasesofsomenormaloperators,lineColderon-Zygmundoperator,almost…     

On the perturbational global attractivity of nonautomous delay differential equations

Consider the perturbed nonautonomous linear delay differential equation x(t) = - a(t)x(t-τ) + F(t, x₁, t ⩾ 0 where x₁(s)=x(t+s) for −δ≤s≤0. Suppose that a(t) ∈ C([0,∞), (0,∞)), τ≥0,F:[0, ∞) x C[−δ,0] → R is a continuous functions and F(t,0) ≡ 0. Here C[−δ,0] is the space of continuous functions Φ: [−δ,0] → R with ∥Φ∥<H for the norm | Φ |, where |·| is any norm in R and 0<H≤+∞. Most of the known papers [1–5,7] have been concerned with the local or global asymptotic behavior of the zero solution of Eq. (*) when a(t) is independent of t i. e., a(t) is autonomous. The aim in this paper is to derive the sufficient conditions for the global attractivity of the zero solution of of Eq. (*) When a(t) is nonautomous. Our results, which extend and improve the known results, are even “sharp”. At the same time, the method used in this paper can be applicable to the perturbed nonlinear equation. Project supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan     

The plane stress crack-tip field for an incompressible rubber material

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Asymptotic Stability of Riemann Solutions for a Class of Multidimensional Systems of Conservation Laws with Viscosity

We prove the asymptotic stability of two-state nonplanar Riemann solutions for a class of multidimensional hyperbolic systems of conservation laws when the initial data are perturbed and viscosity is added. The class considered here is those systems whose flux functions in different directions share a common complete system of Riemann invariants, the level surfaces of which are hyperplanes. In particular, we obtain the uniqueness of the self-similar L^∞ entropy solution of the two-state nonplanar Riemann problem. The asymptotic stability to which the main result refers is in the sense of the convergence as t→∞ in L_loc¹ of the space of directions ξ = x/t. That is, the solution u(t, x) of the perturbed problem satisfies u(t, tξ)→R(ξ) as t→∞, in L_loc¹(ℝⁿ), where R(ξ) is the self-similar entropy solution of the corresponding two-state nonplanar Riemann problem.     

On asymptotic properties of solutions of linear differential functional equations with linearly transformed argument

We establish new properties of C ¹[−1, +∞)-solutions of the linear functional differential equation ẋ(t) = ax(t) + bx(qt) + hx(t−1) + cẋ(qt) + rẋ(t−1) in the neighborhood of the singular point t = +∞. __________ Translated from Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 170–177, April–June, 2006.     

Steady thermocapillary-buoyant convection in a shallow annular pool. Part 2: Two immiscible fluids

This work is devoted to the study of steady thermocapillary-buoyant convection in a system of two horizontal superimposed immiscible liquid layers filling a lateral heated thin annular pool.The governing equations are solved using an asymptotic theory for the aspect ratios ε→ 0.Asymptotic solutions of the velocity and temperature fields are obtained in the core region away from the cylinder walls.In order to validate the asymptotic solutions,numerical simulations are also carried out and the results are compared to each other.It is found that the present asymptotic solutions are valid in most of the core region.And the applicability of the obtained asymptotic solutions decreases with the increase of the aspect ratio and the thickness ratio of the two layers.For a system of gallium arsenide (lower layer) and boron oxide (upper layer),the buoyancy slightly weakens the thermocapillary convection in the upper layer and strengthens it in the lower layer.     

Stability of Degenerate Stationary Waves for Viscous Gases

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic stability of degenerate stationary waves for viscous gases in the half space. We discuss the following two cases: (1) viscous conservation laws and (2) damped wave equations with nonlinear convection. In each case, we prove that the solution converges to the corresponding degenerate stationary wave at the rate t ^−α/4 as t → ∞, provided that the initial perturbation is in the weighted space L²_a=L²(\mathbb R₊; (1+x)^a dx){L^2_\alpha=L^2({\mathbb R}_+;\,(1+x)^\alpha dx)} . This convergence rate t ^−α/4 is weaker than the one for the non-degenerate case and requires the restriction α < α_*(q), where α_*(q) is the critical value depending only on the degeneracy exponent q. Such a restriction is reasonable because the corresponding linearized operator for viscous conservation laws cannot be dissipative in L²_a{L^2_\alpha} for α > α^*(q) with another critical value α^*(q). Our stability analysis is based on the space–time weighted energy method in which the spatial weight is chosen as a function of the degenerate stationary wave.     

Wave Packets, Signaling and Resonances in a Homogeneous Waveguide

We solve the initial-boundary-value linear stability problem for small localised disturbances in a homogeneous elastic waveguide formally by applying a combined Laplace – Fourier transform. An asymptotic evaluation of the solution, expressed as an inverse Laplace – Fourier integral, is carried out by means of the mathematical formalism of absolute and convective instabilities. Wave packets, triggered by perturbations localised in space and finite in time, as well as responses to sources localised in space, with the time dependence satisfying e^−iωt + O(e^−ɛt ), for t → ∞, where Im ω₀ = 0 and ω > 0 , that is, the signaling problem, are treated. For this purpose, we analyse the dispersion relation of the problem analytically, and by solving numerically the eigenvalue stability problem. It is shown that due to double roots in a wavenumber k of the dispersion relation function D(k, ω), for real frequencies ω, that satisfy a collision criterion, wave packets with an algebraic temporal decay and signaling with an algebraic temporal growth, that is, temporal resonances, are present in a neutrally stable homogeneous waveguide. Moreover, for any admissible combination of the physical parameters, a homogeneous waveguide possesses a countable set of temporally resonant frequencies. Consequences of these results for modelling in seismology are discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Fractional Model of Continuum Mechanics

Although there has been renewed interest in the use of fractional models in many application areas, in reality fractional analysis has a long and distinguished history and can be traced back to the likes of Leibniz (Letter to L’Hospital, 1695), Liouville (J. éc. Polytech. 13:71, 1832), and Riemann (Gesammelte Werke, p. 62, 1876). Recent publications (Podlubny in Math. Sci. Eng. 198, 1999; Sabatier et al. in Advances in fractional calculus: theoretical developments and applications in physics and engineering, Springer, Berlin, 2007; Das in Functional fractional calculus for system identification and controls, Springer, Berlin, 2007) demonstrate that fractional derivative models have found widespread applications in science and engineering. Late fundamental considerations have led to the introduction of fractional calculus in continuum mechanics in an attempt to develop non-local constitutive relations (Lazopoulos in Mech. Res. Commun. 33:753–757, 2006). Attempts have also been made to model microscopic forces using fractional derivatives (Vazquez in Nonlinear waves: classical and quantum aspects, pp. 129–133, 2004). Our approach in this paper differs from previous theoretical work, in that we develop a general framework directly from the classical continuum mechanics, by defining the laws of motion and the stresses using fractional derivatives. The timeliness and relevance of this work is justified by the surge in interest in applications of fractional order models to biological, physical and economic systems. The aim of the present paper is to lay the foundations for a new non-local model of continuum mechanics based on fractional order derivatives which we will refer to as the fractional model of continuum mechanics. Following the theoretical development, we apply this framework to two one-dimensional model problems: the deformation of an infinite bar subjected to a self-equilibrated load distribution, and the propagation of longitudinal waves in a thin finite bar.     

Lp-Lq Estimate of the Stokes Operator and Navier–Stokes Flows in the Exterior of a Rotating Obstacle

We consider the motion of a viscous fluid filling the whole three-dimensional space exterior to a rotating obstacle with constant angular velocity. We develop the L _p -L _q estimates and the similar estimates in the Lorentz spaces of the Stokes semigroup with rotation effect. We next apply them to the Navier–Stokes equation to prove the global existence of a unique solution which goes to a stationary flow as t → ∞ with some definite rates when both the stationary flow and the initial disturbance are sufficiently small in L _3,∞ (weak-L ₃ space).