On stability and bifurcation of periodic solutions of delay differential equations

The purpose of this paper is to study a class of delay differential equations with two delays. first, we consider the existence of periodic solutions for some delay differential equations. Second, we investigate the local stability of the zero solution of the equation by analyzing the correlocal stability of the zero solution of the equation by analyzing the corresponding characteristic equation of the linearized equation. The exponential stability of a perturbed delay differential system with a bounded lag is studied. Finally, by choosing one of the delays as a bifurcation parameter, we show that the equation exhibits Hopf and saddle-node bifurcations.     

Stokes and Navier–Stokes equations with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions

In this paper, we study the existence and regularity of solutions to the Stokes and Oseen equations with nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions with low regularity. We consider boundary conditions for which the normal component is not equal to zero. We rewrite the Stokes and the Oseen equations in the form of a system of two equations. The first one is an evolution equation satisfied by Pu, the projection of the solution on the Stokes space – the space of divergence free vector fields with a normal trace equal to zero – and the second one is a quasi-stationary elliptic equation satisfied by (I−P)u, the projection of the solution on the orthogonal complement of the Stokes space. We establish optimal regularity results for Pu and (I−P)u. We also study the existence of weak solutions to the three-dimensional instationary Navier–Stokes equations for more regular data, but without any smallness assumption on the initial and boundary conditions.     

Zero singularities in a ring network with two delays

In this paper, we consider a neural network model consisting of three neurons with delayed self- and nearest-neighbor connections. We provide multiple bifurcations of the zero solution of the system near zero eigenvalue singularity. Taking the coupling coefficients as the bifurcation parameters, four kinds of zero singularities are demonstrated through center manifold reduction and normal form calculation.     

Analytic Solutions of L∞ Optimal Control Problems for the Wave Equation

There are very few results about analytic solutions of problems of optimal control with minimal L norm. In this paper, we consider such a problem for the wave equation, where the derivative of the state is controlled at both boundaries. We start in the zero position and consider a problem of exact control, that is, we want to reach a given terminal state in a given finite time. Our aim is to find a control with minimal L norm that steers the system to the target.We give the analytic solution for certain classes of target points, for example, target points that are given by constant functions. For such targets with zero velocity, the analytic solution has been given by Bennighof and Boucher in Ref. 1.     

Global asymptotic stability of certain third‐order nonlinear differential equations

In this paper, we give some sufficient conditions to guarantee global asymptotic stability of the zero solution of the third‐order nonlinear differential equation: x ′ ′ ′ + g(x,x ′ ,x ′ ′ ) + f(x,x ′ )x ′ + h(x) = 0. Two examples are also given to illustrate our results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

General energy decay estimates of Timoshenko systems with frictional versus viscoelastic damping

In this paper we consider the following Timoshenko system: with Dirichlet boundary conditions and initial data where a, b, g and h are specific functions and ρ₁, ρ₂, k₁, k₂ and L are given positive constants. We establish a general stability estimate using the multiplier method and some properties of convex functions. Without imposing any growth condition on h at the origin, we show that the energy of the system is bounded above by a quantity, depending on g and h, which tends to zero as time goes to infinity. Our estimate allows us to consider a large class of functions h with general growth at the origin. We use some examples (known in the case of wave equations and Maxwell system) to show how to derive from our general estimate the polynomial, exponential or logarithmic decay. The results of this paper improve and generalize some existing results in the literature and generate some interesting open problems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stability and bifurcation analysis in a viral model with delay

In this paper, we consider a three‐dimensional viral model with delay. We first investigate the linear stability and the existence of a Hopf bifurcation. It is shown that Hopf bifurcations occur as the delay τ passes through a sequence of critical values. Then, using the normal form theory and center manifold reduction, we derive the explicit formulaes that determine the stability, the direction, and the period of bifurcating periodic solutions. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the validity of the main results. Finally, some brief conclusions are given. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fourth-order finite difference methods for three-dimensional general linear elliptic problems with variable coefficients

In this article, we give a simple method for deriving finite difference schemes on a uniform cubic grid. We consider a general, three-dimensional, second-order, linear, elliptic partial differential equation with variable coefficients. We derive two simple fourth-order schemes. When the coefficients of the second-order mixed derivatives are equal to zero, the fourth-order scheme requires only 19 grid points. When the coefficients of the mixed derivatives are not equal to zero and the coefficients of U_xx, U_yy, and U_zz are equal, we require the 27 points of the cubic grid. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the two schemes derived. There does not exist a fourth-order scheme involving 27 grid points for the general case.     

Conformal metrics with prescribed nonpositive Gaussian curvature on {\mathbb R}^2

In this paper, we consider the equation where is a nonpositive function in . A solution u is said to be complete if the conformal metric is complete in . Let Assuming only that , we prove that equation (0.1) possesses infinitely many complete solutions. If in addition, K is assumed to satisfy for some positive constant m, then is also necessary for equation (0.1) to have a complete solution with finite total curvature. We are also able to classify the solution set of equation (0.1) for a wider class of the curvature function K than those considered in [5, 6]. Received October 1, 1997 / Revised version August 10, 1999 / Published online April 6, 2000     

Bifurcation analysis for a regulated logistic growth model

In this paper, we consider a regulated logistic growth model. We first consider the linear stability and the existence of a Hopf bifurcation. We show that Hopf bifurcations occur as the delay τ passes through critical values. Then, using the normal form theory and center manifold reduction, we derive the explicit algorithm determining the direction of Hopf bifurcations and the stability of the bifurcating periodic solutions. Finally, numerical simulation results are given to support the theoretical predictions.     

Spectral Analysis for Stationary Solutions of the Cahn–Hilliard Equation in ℝ d

We consider the spectrum associated with three types of bounded stationary solutions for the Cahn–Hilliard equation on ? ^d , d ≥ 2: radial solutions, saddle solutions (only for d = 2), and planar periodic solutions. In particular, we establish spectral instability for each type of solution. The important case of multiply periodic solutions does not fit into the framework of our approach, and we do not consider it here.     

The lubrication approximation for thin viscous films: Regularity and long-time behavior of weak solutions

We consider the fourth-order degenerate diffusion equation, in one space dimension. This equation, derived from a lubrication approximation, models the surface-tension-dominated motion of thin viscous films and spreading droplets [15]. The equation with f(h) = |h| also models a thin neck of fluid in the Hele-Shaw cell [10], [11], [23]. In such problems h(x,t) is the local thickness of the the film or neck. This paper considers the properties of weak solutions that are more relevant to the droplet problem than to Hele-Shaw. For simplicity we consider periodic boundary conditions with the interpretation of modeling a periodic array of droplets. We consider two problems: The first has initial data h₀ ≥ 0 and f(h) = |h|ⁿ, 0 < n < 3. We show that there exists a weak nonnegative solution for all time. Also, we show that this solution becomes a strong positive solution after some finite time T*, and asymptotically approaches its means as t → ∞. The weak solution is in the classical sense of distributions for 3/8 < n < 3 and in a weaker sense introduced in [1] for the remaining 0 < n ≤ 3/8. Furthermore, the solutions have high enough regularity to just include the unique source-type solutions [2] with zero slope at the edge of the support. They do not include any of the less regular solutions with positive slope at the edge of the support. Second, we consider strictly positive initial data h₀ ≥ m > 0 and f(h) = |h|ⁿ, 0 < n < ∞. For this problem we show that even if a finite-time singularity of the form h → 0 does occur, there exists a weak nonnegative solution for all time t. This weak solution becomes strong and positive again after some critical time T*. As in the first problem, we show that the solution approaches its mean as t → ∞. The main technical idea is to introduce new classes of dissipative entropies to prove existence and higher regularity. We show that these entropies are related to norms of the difference between the solution and its mean to prove the relaxation result. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the global existence and small dispersion limit for a class of complex Ginzburg–Landau equations

In this paper we consider a class of complex Ginzburg–Landau equations. We obtain sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of global solutions for the initial‐value problem in d‐dimensional torus ??^d, and that solutions are initially approximated by solutions of the corresponding small dispersion limit equation for a period of time that goes to infinity as dispersive coefficient goes to zero. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inverse problem for a weakly degenerate parabolic equation in a domain with free boundary

In a domain with free boundary, we consider an inverse problem of determining the time-dependent leading coefficient of a parabolic equation, which tends to zero as t → 0 like a certain given function. Conditions for the existence and uniqueness of a classical solution in the case of weak degeneration are established.     

Time-periodic Ginzburg-Landau equations for one dimensional patterns with large wave length

Summary We consider a system invariant under shifts in the spatial coordinatex, and under reflection symmetryx –x, and possessing a fully symmetric steady solution. We assume that instability threshold of this solution occurs at a zero critical wave number, through an oscillatory mode. We then show that bifurcating time-periodic solutions correspond to the bounded solutions of a second order complex Ginzburg-Landau equation, where the frequency plays the role of an additional parameter. This result still holds for periodic solutions in a slowly moving frame. We give a reaction diffusion example where coefficients of the above equation are explicitly computed.Dedicated to Klaus Kirchgässner on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday     

Stability Theory of General Contractions for Delay Equations

We study the persistence of the asymptotic stability of delay equations both under linear and nonlinear perturbations. Namely, we consider nonautonomous linear delay equations v′ = L(t)v _t with a nonuniform exponential contraction. Our main objective is to establish the persistence of the nonuniform exponential stability of the zero solution both under nonautonomous linear perturbations, i.e., for the equation v′ = (L(t) + M(t))v _t , thus discussing the so-called robustness problem, and under a large class of nonlinear perturbations, namely for the equation v′ = L(t)v _t + f(t, v _t ). In addition, we consider general contractions e ^−λρ(t) determined by an increasing function ρ that includes the usual exponential behavior with ρ(t) = t as a very special case. We also obtain corresponding results in the case of discrete time.     

Cascades of Hopf bifurcations from boundary delay

We consider a 1-dimensional reaction-diffusion equation with nonlinear boundary conditions of logistic type with delay. We deal with non-negative solutions and analyze the stability behavior of its unique positive equilibrium solution, which is given by the constant function u≡1. We show that if the delay is small, this equilibrium solution is asymptotically stable, similar as in the case without delay. We also show that, as the delay goes to infinity, this equilibrium becomes unstable and undergoes a cascade of Hopf bifurcations. The structure of this cascade will depend on the parameters appearing in the equation. This equation shows some dynamical behavior that differs from the case where the nonlinearity with delay is in the interior of the domain.     

On the Cauchy problem for a doubly nonlinear degenerate parabolic equation with strongly nonlinear sources

In this article, we consider the existence of local and global solution to the Cauchy problem of a doubly nonlinear equation. By introducing the norms |||_f||| _h and 〈f〉_h, we give the sufficient and necessary conditions on the initial value to the existence of local solution of doubly nonlinear equation. Moreover some results on the global existence and nonexistence of solutions are considered. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10531020)     

Asymptotic behavior for the filtration equation in domains with noncompact boundary

We consider the initial value boundary problem with zero Neumann data for an equation modeled after the porous media equation, with variable coefficients. The spatial domain is unbounded and shaped like a (general) paraboloid, and the solution u is integrable in space and nonnegative. We show that the asymptotic profile for large times of u is one dimensional and given by an explicit function, which can be regarded as the fundamental solution of a one-dimensional differential equation with weights. In the case when the domain is a cone or the whole space (Cauchy problem), we obtain a genuine multidimensional profile given by the well-known Barenblatt solution.     

Stability diagram for 4D linear periodic systems with applications to homographic solutions

We consider a family of 4-dimensional Hamiltonian time-periodic linear systems depending on three parameters, λ₁, λ₂ and ε such that for ε=0 the system becomes autonomous. Using normal form techniques we study stability and bifurcations for ε>0 small enough. We pay special attention to the d'Alembert case. The results are applied to the study of the linear stability of homographic solutions of the planar three-body problem, for some homogeneous potential of degree −α, 0<α<2, including the Newtonian case.