Parabolic Systems with p, q-Growth: A Variational Approach

We consider the evolution problem associated with a convex integrand ${f : \mathbb{R}^{Nn}\to [0,\infty)}$ satisfying a non-standard p, q-growth assumption. To establish the existence of solutions we introduce the concept of variational solutions. In contrast to weak solutions, that is, mappings ${u\colon \Omega_T \to \mathbb{R}^n}$ which solve $$ \partial_tu-{\rm div} Df(Du)=0 $$ weakly in ${\Omega_T}$ , variational solutions exist under a much weaker assumption on the gap q ? p. Here, we prove the existence of variational solutions provided the integrand f is strictly convex and $$\frac{2n}{n+2} < p \le q < p+1.$$ These variational solutions turn out to be unique under certain mild additional assumptions on the data. Moreover, if the gap satisfies the natural stronger assumption $$ 2\le p \le q < p+ {\rm min}\big \{1,\frac{4}{n} \big \},$$ we show that variational solutions are actually weak solutions. This means that solutions u admit the necessary higher integrability of the spatial derivative Du to satisfy the parabolic system in the weak sense, that is, we prove that $$u\in L^q_{\rm loc}\big(0,T; W^{1,q}_{\rm loc}(\Omega,\mathbb{R}^N)\big).$$      

Effective Stress in Unsaturated Soils: A Thermodynamic Approach Based on the Interfacial Energy and Hydromechanical Coupling

In recent years, the effective stress approach has received much attention in the constitutive modeling of unsaturated soils. In this approach, the effective stress parameter is very important. This parameter needs a correct definition and has to be determined properly. In this paper, a thermodynamic approach is used to develop a physically-based formula for the effective stress tensor in unsaturated soils. This approach accounts for the hydro-mechanical coupling, which is quite important when dealing with hydraulic hysteresis in unsaturated soils. The resulting formula takes into account the role of interfacial energy and the contribution of air?Cwater specific interfacial area to the effective stress tensor. Moreover, a bi-quadratic surface is proposed to represent the contribution of the so-called suction stress in the effective stress tensor. It is shown that the proposed relationship for suction stress is in agreement with available experimental data in the full hydraulic cycle (drying, scanning, and wetting).     

A Variational Approach to Particles in Lipid Membranes

A variety of models for the membrane-mediated interaction of particles in lipid membranes, mostly well-established in theoretical physics, is reviewed from a mathematical perspective. We provide mathematically consistent formulations in a variational framework, relate apparently different modelling approaches in terms of successive approximation, and investigate existence and uniqueness. Numerical computations illustrate that the new variational formulations are directly accessible to effective numerical methods.     

Identification of Mechanical Properties by Displacement Field Measurement: A Variational Approach

We study a parameter identification problem associated with a two-dimensional mechanical problem. In the first part, the experimental technique of determining the displacement field is briefly presented. The variational method proposed herein is based on the minimization of either a separately convex functional or a convex functional that leads to the reconstruction of the elastic tensor and the stress field. These two reconstructed fields are continuous and piecewise linear on a triangulation of the two-dimensional domain. Some numerical and experimental examples are presented to test the performance of the algorithms.     

A Variational Approach to Dynamics of Flexible Multibody Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a variational formulation of constrained dynamics of flexible multibody systems, using a vector-variational calculus approach. Body reference frames are used to define global position and orientation of individual bodies in the system, located and oriented by position of its origin and Euler parameters, respectively. Small strain linear elastic deformation of individual components, relative to their body reference frames, is defined by linear combinations of deformation modes that are induced by constraint reaction forces and normal modes of vibration. A library of kinematic couplings between flexible and/or rigid bodies is defined and analyzed. Variational equations of motion for multibody systems are obtained and reduced to mixed differential-algebraic equations of motion. A space structure that must deform during deployment is analyzed, to illustrate use of the methods developed     

Weakly Nonlinear Gravity Three-Dimensional Unbounded Interfacial Waves: Perturbation Method and Variational Formulation

Weakly non-linear behaviour of interfacial short-crested waves with current is presented in this paper. Two approaches are used to determine analytical solutions. First, a perturbation method was applied to determine the fifth-order solutions. The advantage of this method is that it allows for the determination of the harmonic resonance condition which is one of the major short-crested waves characteristics. The second method is Whitham’s Lagrangian approach. From this method, we obtained a quadratic dispersion equation. In the linear case, we have shown that there is a critical current beyond which steady wave solutions cannot exist. This critical current is associated with the emergence of instability. For the non-linear case, the critical current increases with the wave amplitude as in the two-dimensional case.

     

A Variational Approach to the Macroscopic Electrodynamics of Anisotropic Hard Superconductors

We consider Bean’s critical state model for anisotropic superconductors. A variational problem solved by the quasi-static evolution of the internal magnetic field is obtained as the Γ-limit of functionals arising from Maxwell’s equations combined with a power law for the dissipation. Moreover, the quasi-static approximation of the internal electric field is recovered, using a first order necessary condition. If the sample is a long cylinder subjected to an axial uniform external field, the macroscopic electrodynamics is explicitly determined.     

A Variational Approach to Obstacle Problems for Shearable Nonlinearly Elastic Rods

We use variational methods to study obstacle problems for geometrically exact (Cosserat) theories for the planar deformation of nonlinearly elastic rods. These rods can suffer flexure, extension, and shear. There is a marked difference between the behavior of a shearable and an unshearable rod. The set of admissible deformations is not convex, because of the exact geometry used. We first investigate the fundamental question of describing contact forces, which we necessarily treat as vector‐valued Borel measures. Moreover, we introduce techniques for describing point obstacles. Then we prove existence for a very large class of problems. Finally, using nonsmooth analysis for handling the obstacle, we show that the Euler‐Lagrange equations are satisfied almost everywhere. These equations provide very detailed structural information about the contact forces. Accepted June 3, 1996     

A Variational Approach for the 2-Dimensional Semi-Geostrophic Shallow Water Equations

Existence of weak solutions to the 3-D semi-geostrophic equations with rigid boundaries was proved by Benamou and Brenier [3], using Monge transport theory. This paper extends the results to a free surface boundary condition, which is more physically appropriate. This extension is at present for the 2-D shallow water case only. In addition, we establish stronger time regularity than was possible in [3]. Accepted October 9, 2000?Published online February 14, 2001     

Optimal Design of Structures Against Buckling: A Complementary Energy Approach

ABSTRACT

The complementary energy approach is used to establish the basic principles in terms of generalized stress components for the optimum design of elastic structures against buckling. The necessary condition of optlmality is derived and its sufficiency is established for those structures whose compliance densities are convex and which are statically determinate. By way of illustration, the development is used to rederive the governing equations for the optimal design of a column against lateral buckling. The formulation is further applied to obtain optimum design of thin-walled beams against lateral-torsional buckling.     

A Variational Approach to the Isoperimetric Inequality for the Robin Eigenvalue Problem

The isoperimetric inequality for the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator with Robin boundary conditions was recently proved by Daners in the context of Lipschitz sets. This paper introduces a new approach to the isoperimetric inequality, based on the theory of special functions of bounded variation (SBV). We extend the notion of the first eigenvalue λ₁ for general domains with finite volume (possibly unbounded and with irregular boundary), and we prove that the balls are the unique minimizers of λ₁ among domains with prescribed volume.     

The Interaction between a Uniformly Loaded Circular Plate and an Isotropic Elastic Halfspace: A Variational Approach

ABSTRACT

The axially symmetric flexural interaction of a uniformly loaded circular plate resting in smooth contact with an isotropic elastic halfspace is examined by using an energy method. In this development the deflected shape of the plate is represented in the form of a power series expansion which satisfies the kinematic constraints of the plate deformation. The flexural behavior of the plate is described by the classical Poisson-Kirchhoff thin plate theory. Using the energy formulation, analytical solutions are obtained for the maximum deflection, the relative deflection, and the maximum flexural moment in the circular plate. The results derived from the energy method are compared with equivalent results derived from numerical techniques. The solution based on the energy method yields accurate results for a wide range of relative rigidities of practical interest.     

A Variational Approach to Multiple Layers¶of the Bistable Equation in Long Tubes

Multiple-layer solutions of the balanced bistable equation in infinite tubes are constructed via a variational method. I start with a characterization of Palais-Smale sequences which easily gives some global minima in the desired function classes as single layers. Assuming these minima are isolated as critical points, I paste them together to serve as an approximate multiple-layer solution. If there were no exact solutions near the approximate one, the negative gradient flow of the energy functional would significantly lower the energy. On the other hand, if the minima are kept far from each other, the energy of a function near the approximate solution is not much less than that of the approximate solution. This contradiction proves the existence of a solution. (Accepted January 11, 1996)     

A Variational Approach to the Fredholm Alternative for the p-Laplacian near the First Eigenvalue

We are concerned with the existence of a weak solution to the degenerate quasi-linear Dirichlet boundary value problem

一种滑动轴承非线性油膜力变分近似计算方法

基于变分原理，在π油膜假设条件下，利用无限长轴承的压力解，给出了滑动轴承非线性油膜力的近似表达式同时在实际轴承参数条件下，对比分析了计算结果及数值解，发现该计算结果具有较高精度．     

NonLinearly Elastic Membrane Model For Heterogeneous Shells by Using a New Double Scale Variational Formulation: A Formal Asymptotic Approach

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic analysis of shells with periodically rapidly varying heterogeneities. The asymptotic analysis is performed when both the periods of changes of the material properties and the thickness of the shell are of the same orders of magnitude. We consider a shell made of Saint Venant–Kirchhoff type materials for which we justify a new two-scale variational formulation. We assume that both the data and the displacement field admit a formal asymptotic expansion with a negative order of the leading term. We prove that the lowest order term of the displacement field must be of order zero. When the space of nonlinear inextensional displacement is reduced to , this displacement field is a solution of a two-dimensional membrane model which is obtained by solving two coupled problems. The first, posed on the middle surface of the shell is two-dimensional and global and the second, posed on the periodicity cell, is three-dimensional and local.     

Radial Solutions of¶Superlinear Equations on ℝN¶Part I: Global Variational Approach

We present a global variational approach to the search for multiple nodal solutions u∈H ¹(? ^N ) to a class of elliptic equations of type¶?Δu(x)=f(|x|,u(x)), x∈? ^N ,¶where N≧ 2, f is superlinear and subcritical, and f(|x|≡0.