Sixth-order Cahn–Hilliard equations with singular nonlinear terms

Our aim in this paper is to study the well-posedness for a class of sixth-order Cahn–Hilliard equations with singular nonlinear terms. More precisely, we prove the existence and uniqueness of variational solutions, based on a variational inequality.     

Doubly nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard equations

We consider a doubly nonlocal nonlinear parabolic equation which describes phase-segregation of a two-component material in a bounded domain. This model is a more general version than the recent nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard equation proposed by Giacomin and Lebowitz [26], such that it reduces to the latter under certain conditions. We establish well-posedness results along with regularity and long-time results in the case when the interaction between the two levels of nonlocality is strong-to-weak.     

Existence and uniqueness of solutions to singular Cahn–Hilliard equations with nonlinear viscosity terms and dynamic boundary conditions

We prove global existence and uniqueness of solutions to a Cahn–Hilliard system with nonlinear viscosity terms and nonlinear dynamic boundary conditions. The problem is highly nonlinear, characterized by four nonlinearities and two separate diffusive terms, all acting in the interior of the domain or on its boundary. Through a suitable approximation of the problem based on abstract theory of doubly nonlinear evolution equations, existence and uniqueness of solutions are proved using compactness and monotonicity arguments. The asymptotic behaviour of the solutions as the diffusion operator on the boundary vanishes is also shown.     

Error control for the approximation of Allen–Cahn and Cahn–Hilliard equations with a logarithmic potential

A fully computable upper bound for the finite element approximation error of Allen–Cahn and Cahn–Hilliard equations with logarithmic potentials is derived. Numerical experiments show that for the sharp interface limit this bound is robust past topological changes. Modifications of the abstract results to derive quasi-optimal error estimates in different norms for lowest order finite element methods are discussed and lead to weaker conditions on the residuals under which the conditional error estimates hold.     

Optimal distributed control of nonlinear Cahn–Hilliard systems with computational realization

The goal of this work is to present some optimal control aspects of distributed systems described by nonlinear Cahn–Hilliard equations (CH). Theoretical conclusions on distributed control of CH system associated with quadratic criteria are obtained by the variational theory (see [17]). A computational result is stated by a new semi-discrete algorithm, constructed on the basis of the finite-element method with the updated (nonlinear) conjugate gradient method for minimizing the performance index efficiently. Finally, the implementation of a laboratory demonstration is included to show the efficiency of the proposed nonlinear scheme.     

On an incompressible Navier–Stokes/Cahn–Hilliard system with degenerate mobility

We prove existence of weak solutions for a diffuse interface model for the flow of two viscous incompressible Newtonian fluids in a bounded domain by allowing for a degenerate mobility. The model has been developed by Abels, Garcke and Grün for fluids with different densities and leads to a solenoidal velocity field. It is given by a non-homogeneous Navier–Stokes system with a modified convective term coupled to a Cahn–Hilliard system, such that an energy estimate is fulfilled which follows from the fact that the model is thermodynamically consistent.     

Stochastic Cahn–Hilliard equation with singular nonlinearity and reflection

We consider a stochastic partial differential equation with logarithmic (or negative power) nonlinearity, with one reflection at 0 and with a constraint of conservation of the space average. The equation, driven by the derivative in space of a space–time white noise, contains a bi-Laplacian in the drift. The lack of the maximum principle for the bi-Laplacian generates difficulties for the classical penalization method, which uses a crucial monotonicity property. Being inspired by the works of Debussche and Zambotti, we use a method based on infinite dimensional equations, approximation by regular equations and convergence of the approximated semigroup. We obtain existence and uniqueness of a solution for nonnegative initial conditions, results on the invariant measures, and on the reflection measures.     

Global existence of solutions for a viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation with gradient dependent potentials and sources

We consider a class of nonlinear viscous Cahn–Hilliard equations with gradient dependent potentials and sources. By a Galerkin approximation scheme combined with the potential well method, we prove the global existence of weak solutions.     

The Cahn–Hilliard equation with time-dependent constraint

We propose an abstract variational inequality formulation of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with a time-dependent constraint. We introduce notions of strong and weak solutions, and prove that a strong solution, if it exists, is a weak solution, and that the existence of a unique weak solution holds under an appropriate time-dependence condition on the constraint. We also show that the weak solution is a strong solution under appropriate assumptions on the data. Our abstract results can be applied to various concrete problems.     

Cahn–Hilliard equation with nonlocal singular free energies

Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata (1923 -) - We consider a Cahn–Hilliard equation which is the conserved gradient flow of a nonlocal total free energy functional. This functional is...     

On the development and generalizations of Cahn–Hilliard equations within a thermodynamic framework

We provide a thermodynamic basis for the development of models that are usually referred to as ??phase-field models?? for compressible, incompressible, and quasi-incompressible fluids. Using the theory of mixtures as a starting point, we develop a framework within which we can derive ??phase-field models?? both for mixtures of two constituents and for mixtures of arbitrarily many fluids. In order to obtain the constitutive equations, we appeal to the requirement that among all admissible constitutive relations that which is appropriate maximizes the rate of entropy production (see Rajagopal and Srinivasa in Proc R Soc Lond A 460:631?C651, 2004). The procedure has the advantage that the theory is based on prescribing the constitutive equations for only two scalars: the entropy and the entropy production. Unlike the assumption made in the case of the Navier?CStokes?CFourier fluids, we suppose that the entropy is not only a function of the internal energy and the density but also of gradients of the partial densities or the concentration gradients. The form for the rate of entropy production is the same as that for the Navier?CStokes?CFourier fluid. As observed earlier in Heida and Málek (Int J Eng Sci 48(11):1313?C1324, 2010), it turns out that the dependence of the rate of entropy production on the thermodynamical fluxes is crucial. The resulting equations are of the Cahn?CHilliard?CNavier?CStokes type and can be expressed both in terms of density gradients or concentration gradients. As particular cases, we will obtain the Cahn?CHilliard?CNavier?CStokes system as well as the Korteweg equation. Compared to earlier approaches, our methodology has the advantage that it directly takes into account the rate of entropy production and can take into consideration any constitutive assumption for the internal energy (or entropy).     

Multi-component Cahn–Hilliard systems with dynamic boundary conditions

Our aim in this paper is to study the well-posedness and the asymptotic behavior, in terms of finite-dimensional attractors, of Cahn–Hilliard systems describing phase separation processes in multi-component alloys, endowed with dynamic boundary conditions. Such boundary conditions take into account the interactions with the walls when considering confined systems.     

Local Bifurcations in the Cahn–Hilliard and Kuramoto–Sivashinsky Equations and in Their Generalizations

Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Physics - A periodic boundary value problem for a nonlinear evolution equation that takes the form of such well-known equations of mathematical physics as...