Analysis of a dynamic unilateral contact problem for a cracked viscoelastic body

This work deals with the mathematical analysis of a dynamic unilateral contact problem with friction for a cracked viscoelastic body. We consider here a Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic material and a nonlocal friction law. To prove the existence of a solution to the unilateral problem with friction, an auxiliary penalized problem is studied. Several estimates on the penalized solutions are given, which enable us to pass to the limit by using compactness results. Received: February 16, 2005     

A symmetry problem in the calculus of variations

Let be a ball in ^N, centered at zero, and letu be a minimizer of the nonconvex functional over one of the classesC _M := {w W _loc ^1, () 0 w(x) M in,w concave} orE _M := {w W _loc ^1,2 () 0 w(x) M in,w 0 inL()}of admissible functions. Thenu is not radial and not unique. Therefore one can further reduce the resistance of Newton's rotational body of minimal resistance through symmetry breaking.     

Transient response of a semi-infinite piezoelectric layer with a surface permeable crack

The transient response of a semi-infinite transversely isotropic piezoelectric layer containing a surface crack is analyzed for the case where anti-plane mechanical and in-plane electric impacts are suddenly exerted at the layer end. The integral transform techniques are used to reduce the associated mixed initial boundary value problem to a singular integral equation of the first kind, which can be solved numerically via the Lobatto–Chebyshev collocation technique. Dynamic field intensity factors are determined by employing a numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. The dynamic stress intensity factors are presented graphically and the effects of the material properties and geometric parameters are examined. Received: June 30, 2003     

An inverse problem of identifying the coefficient of parabolic equation

This paper studies an inverse problem of identifying the coefficient of parabolic equation when the final observation is given, which has important application in a large fields of applied science. Based on the optimal control framework, the existence and necessary condition of the minimum for the control functional are established. Since the optimal control problem is nonconvex, one may not expect a unique solution. However, in this paper the solution is proved to be locally unique. After the necessary condition is transformed into an elliptic bilateral variational inequality, an algorithm and some numerical experiments are proposed in the paper. The numerical results show that the algorithm designed in this paper is stable and that the coefficient is recovered very well.     

Variational approach to contact problems in nonlinear elasticity

We use variational methods to study problems in nonlinear 3-dimensional elasticity where the deformation of the elastic body is restricted by a rigid obstacle. For an assigned variational problem we first verify the existence of constrained minimizers whereby we extend previous results. Then we rigorously derive the Euler-Lagrange equation as necessary condition for minimizers, which was possible before only under strong smoothness assumptions on the solution. The Lagrange multiplier corresponding to the obstacle constraint provides structural information about the nature of frictionless contact. In the case of contact with, e.g., a corner of the obstacle, we derive a qualitatively new contact condition taking into account the deformed shape of the elastic body. By our analysis it is shown here for the first time rigorously that energy minimizers really solve the mechanical contact problem. Received: 20 October 2000 / Accepted: 7 June 2001 / Published online: 5 September 2002     

An inverse problem of identifying the coefficient in a nonlinear parabolic equation

This paper deals with the determination of a pair (p,u) in the nonlinear parabolic equation

u_t−u_xx+p(x)f(u)=0,     

Local existence of solutions for the initial-boundary value problem of the nonlinear elastodynamic system outside a domain

In this paper we deal with the mixed initial-boundary value problem of Dirichlet type for the nonlinear elastodynamic system outside a domain. The local existence of solutions to this problem is proved by iteration.     

A minimum problem with free boundary in Orlicz spaces

We consider the optimization problem of minimizing in the class of functions W1,G(Ω) with , for a given φ₀?0 and bounded. W1,G(Ω) is the class of weakly differentiable functions with . The conditions on the function G allow for a different behavior at 0 and at ∞. We prove that every solution u is locally Lipschitz continuous, that it is a solution to a free boundary problem and that the free boundary, Ω∩∂{u>0}, is a regular surface. Also, we introduce the notion of weak solution to the free boundary problem solved by the minimizers and prove the Lipschitz regularity of the weak solutions and the C1,α regularity of their free boundaries near “flat” free boundary points.     

Homogenization and behaviour of optimal controls for the wave equation in domains with oscillating boundary

In this paper the asymptotic behaviour of a second-order linear evolution problem is studied in a domain, a part of wich has an oscillating boundary. An homogeneous Neumann condition is given on the whole boundary of the domain. Moreover the behaviour of associated optimal control problem is analyzed.      

Four applications of majorization to convexity in the calculus of variations

The resemblance between the Horn-Thompson theorem and a recent theorem by Dacorogna-Marcellini-Tanteri indicates that Schur-convexity and the majorization relation are relevant for applications in the calculus of variations and its related notions of convexity, such as rank one convexity or quasiconvexity. In Theorem 6.6, we give simple necessary and sufficient conditions for an isotropic objective function to be rank one convex on the set of matrices with positive determinant.Majorization is used in order to give a very short proof of a theorem of Thompson and Freede [R.C. Thompson, L.J. Freede, Eigenvalues of sums of Hermitian matrices III, J. Res. Nat. Bur. Standards B 75B (1971) 115-120], Ball [J.M. Ball, Constitutive inequalities and existence theorems in nonlinear elastostatics, in: R.J. Knops (Ed.), Nonlinear Analysis and Mechanics: Heriot-Watt Symposium, vol. 1, Res. Notes Math., 17, Pitman, 1977, pp. 187-241], or Le Dret [H. Le Dret, Sur les fonctions de matrices convexes et isotropes, CR Acad. Sci. Paris, Série I 310 (1990) 617-620], concerning the convexity of a class of isotropic functions which appear in nonlinear elasticity.Next we prove (Theorem 7.3) a lower semicontinuity result for functionals with the form _∫Ωw(D?(x))dx, with w(F)=h(lnV_F). Here F=R_FU_F=V_FR_F is the usual polar decomposition of F∈gl(n,R), and lnV_F is Hencky’s logarithmic strain.We close this paper with a compact proof of Dacorogna-Marcellini-Tanteri theorem, based only on classical results about majorization. The mentioned resemblance of this theorem with the Horn-Thompson theorem is thus explained.     

Orbital stability of peakons for the Degasperis-Procesi equation with strong dispersion

In this paper, we study the orbital stability of the peakons for the Degasperis-Procesi equation with a strong dispersive term on the line. Using the method in [Z. Lin, Y. Liu, Stability of peakons for the Degasperis-Procesi equation, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 62 (2009) 125-146], we prove that the shapes of these peakons are stable under small perturbations. Some previous results are extended.     

Rearrangements and minimization of the principal eigenvalue of a nonlinear Steklov problem

This paper, motivated by Del Pezzo et al. (2006) [1], discusses the minimization of the principal eigenvalue of a nonlinear boundary value problem. In the literature, this type of problem is called Steklov eigenvalue problem. The minimization is implemented with respect to a weight function. The admissible set is a class of rearrangements generated by a bounded function. We merely assume the generator is non-negative in contrast to [1], where the authors consider weights which are positively away from zero, in addition to being two-valued. Under this generality, more physical situations can be modeled. Finally, using rearrangement theory developed by Geoffrey Burton, we are able to prove uniqueness of the optimal solution when the domain of interest is a ball.     

Regularity for a Schrödinger equation with singular potentials and application to bilinear optimal control

We study the Schrödinger equation i∂_tu+Δu+V₀u+V₁u=0 on R³×(0,T), where V₀(x,t)=|x-a(t)|^-1, with a∈W^2,1(0,T;R³), is a coulombian potential, singular at finite distance, and V₁ is an electric potential, possibly unbounded. The initial condition u₀∈H²(R³) is such that . The potential V₁ is also real valued and may depend on space and time variables. We prove that if V₁ is regular enough and at most quadratic at infinity, this problem is well-posed and the regularity of the initial data is conserved for the solution. We also give an application to the bilinear optimal control of the solution through the electric potential.     

Recovering complex elastic scatterers by a single far-field pattern

We consider the inverse scattering problem of reconstructing multiple impenetrable bodies embedded in an unbounded, homogeneous and isotropic elastic medium. The inverse problem is nonlinear and ill-posed. Our study is conducted in an extremely general and practical setting: the number of scatterers is unknown in advance; and each scatterer could be either a rigid body or a cavity which is not required to be known in advance; and moreover there might be components of multiscale sizes presented simultaneously. We develop several locating schemes by making use of only a single far-field pattern, which is widely known to be challenging in the literature. The inverse scattering schemes are of a totally “direct” nature without any inversion involved. For the recovery of multiple small scatterers, the nonlinear inverse problem is linearized and to that end, we derive sharp asymptotic expansion of the elastic far-field pattern in terms of the relative size of the cavities. The asymptotic expansion is based on the boundary-layer-potential technique and the result obtained is of significant mathematical interest for its own sake. The recovery of regular-size/extended scatterers is based on projecting the measured far-field pattern into an admissible solution space. With a local tuning technique, we can further recover multiple multiscale elastic scatterers.     

Determination of the body force of a two-dimensional isotropic elastic body

Let Ω$\Omega$ represent a two-dimensional isotropic elastic body. We consider the problem of determining the body force F$F$ whose form φ(t)(_f1(x),_f2(x))$\phi \left(t\right)(f_1\left(x\right),f_2\left(x\right))$ with φ$\phi$ be given inexactly. The problem is nonlinear and ill-posed. Using the Fourier transform, the methods of Tikhonov’s regularization and truncated integration, we construct a regularized solution from the data given inexactly and explicitly derive the error estimate.     

Mean curvature flow with obstacles

We consider the evolution of fronts by mean curvature in the presence of obstacles. We construct a weak solution to the flow by means of a variational method, corresponding to an implicit time-discretization scheme. Assuming the regularity of the obstacles, in the two-dimensional case we show existence and uniqueness of a regular solution before the onset of singularities. Finally, we discuss an application of this result to the positive mean curvature flow.     

Isoperimetric inequalities,Wulff shape and related questions for strongly nonlinear elliptic operators

We investigate the first eigenvalue of a highly nonlinear class of elliptic operators which includes the p--Laplace operator $\Delta_p u=\sum_i {{\partial}\over{\partial x_i}} (\vert\nabla u \vert^{p-2}{{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}})$, the pseudo-p-Laplace operator $\tilde\Delta_p u=\sum_i {{\partial}\over{\partial x_i}} (\vert {{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}} \vert^{p-2} {{\partial u}\over{\partial x_i}})$ and others. We derive the positivity of the first eingefunction, simlicity of the first eigenvalue, Faber-Krahn and Payne-Rayner type inequalities. In another chapter we address the question of symmetry for positive solutions to more general equations. Using a Pohozaev-type inequality and isoperimetric inequalities as well as convex rearrangement methods we generalize a symmetry result of Kesavan and Pacella. Our optimal domains are level sets of a convex function H ^o. They have the so-called Wulff shape associated with H and only in special cases they are Euclidean balls.     

On crack propagation shapes in elastic bodies

We consider a two dimensional elastic isotropic body with a curvilinear crack. The formula for the derivative of the energy functional with respect to the crack length is discussed. It is proved that this derivative is independent of the crack path provided that we consider quite smooth crack propagation shapes. An estimate for the derivative of the energy functional being uniform with respect to the crack propagation shape is derived.     

Boundary optimal control for nonlinear antiplane problems

We consider a nonlinear antiplane problem which models the deformation of an elastic cylindrical body in frictional contact with a rigid foundation. The contact is modelled with Tresca’s law of dry friction in which the friction bound is slip dependent.The aim of this article is to study an optimal control problem which consists of leading the stress tensor as close as possible to a given target, by acting with a control on the boundary of the body. The existence of at least one optimal control is proved. Next we introduce a regularized problem, depending on a small parameter ρ, and we study the convergence of the optimal controls when ρ tends to zero. An optimality condition is delivered for the regularized problem.