A Method for Studying Singular Integral Equations

We examine a singular integral equation of the first kind on a bounded open set of an n-dimensional space. Open subsets with a common (contact) (n — 1)-dimensional piecewise smooth part of boundaries are selected. The underdetermined case is treated in which the unknown part of the integrand depends on 2n independent variables whereas a given integral depends only on n variables. In this situation we pose the problem of finding the contact part of the boundaries and prove unique solvability of the problem.     

Infinitely many universally tight torsion free contact structures with vanishing Ozsváth–Szabó contact invariants

Ozsváth–Szabó contact invariants are a powerful way to prove tightness of contact structures but they are known to vanish in the presence of Giroux torsion. In this paper we construct, on infinitely many manifolds, infinitely many isotopy classes of universally tight torsion free contact structures whose Ozsváth–Szabó invariant vanishes. We also discuss the relation between these invariants and an invariant on T³ and construct other examples of new phenomena in Heegaard–Floer theory. Along the way, we prove two conjectures of K. Honda, W. Kazez and G. Matić about their contact topological quantum field theory. Almost all the proofs in this paper rely on their gluing theorem for sutured contact invariants.     

A frictionless contact problem for elastic–viscoplastic materials with normal compliance: Numerical analysis and computational experiments

Summary. In this paper we consider a frictionless contact problem between an elastic–viscoplastic body and an obstacle. The process is assumed to be quasistatic and the contact is modeled with normal compliance. We present a variational formulation of the problem and prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution, using strongly monotone operators arguments and Banach's fixed point theorem. We also study the numerical approach to the problem using spatially semi-discrete and fully discrete finite elements schemes with implicit and explicit discretization in time. We show the existence of the unique solution for each of the schemes and derive error estimates on the approximate solutions. Finally, we present some numerical results involving examples in one, two and three dimensions. Received May 20, 2000 / Revised version received January 8, 2001 / Published online June 7, 2001     

Almost <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>(λ)-manifolds

In this paper, we study almost C(λ)-manifolds. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for an almost contact metric manifold to be an almost C(λ)-manifold. We prove that contact analogs of A. Gray’s second and third curvature identities on almost C(λ)-manifolds hold, while a contact analog of A. Gray’s first identity holds if and only if the manifold is cosymplectic. It is proved that a conformally flat, almost C(λ)-manifold is a manifold of constant curvature λ.     

Torsion and conformally Anosov flows in contact Riemannian geometry

We prove that on a compact (non Sasakian) contact metric 3-manifold with critical metric for the Chern-Hamilton functional, the characteristic vector field ξ is conformally Anosov and there exists a smooth curve in the contact distribution of conformally Anosov flows. As a consequence, we show that negativity of the ξ-sectional curvature is not a necessary condition for conformal Anosovicity of ξ (this completes a result of [4]). Moreover, we study contact metric 3-manifolds with constant ξ-sectional curvature and, in particular, correct a result of [13].     

A class of history-dependent variational-hemivariational inequalities

We consider a new class of variational-hemivariational inequalities which arise in the study of quasistatic models of contact. The novelty lies in the special structure of these inequalities, since each inequality of the class involve unilateral constraints, a history-dependent operator and two nondifferentiable functionals, of which at least one is convex. We prove an existence and uniqueness result of the solution. The proof is based on arguments on elliptic variational-hemivariational inequalities obtained in our previous work [23], combined with a fixed point result obtained in [30]. Then, we prove a convergence result which shows the continuous dependence of the solution with respect to the data. Finally, we present a quasistatic frictionless problem for viscoelastic materials in which the contact is modeled with normal compliance and finite penetration and the elasticity operator is associated to a history-dependent Von Mises convex. We prove that the variational formulation of the problem cast in the abstract setting of history-dependent quasivariational inequalities, with a convenient choice of spaces and operators. Then we apply our general results in order to prove the unique weak solvability of the contact problem and its continuous dependence on the data.     

Combined ℓ<Subscript>2</Subscript> data and gradient fitting in conjunction with ℓ<Subscript>1</Subscript> regularization

We are interested in minimizing functionals with ℓ₂ data and gradient fitting term and ℓ₁ regularization term with higher order derivatives in a discrete setting. We examine the structure of the solution in 1D by reformulating the original problem into a contact problem which can be solved by dual optimization techniques. The solution turns out to be a ’smooth’ discrete polynomial spline whose knots coincide with the contact points while its counterpart in the contact problem is a discrete version of a spline with higher defect and contact points as knots. In 2D we modify Chambolle’s algorithm to solve the minimization problem with the ℓ₁ norm of interacting second order partial derivatives as regularization term. We show that the algorithm can be implemented efficiently by applying the fast cosine transform. We demonstrate by numerical denoising examples that the ℓ₂ gradient fitting term can be used to avoid both edge blurring and staircasing effects.      

On the optimality of some classes of invex problems

In this paper we define two notions: Kuhn–Tucker saddle point invex problem with inequality constraints and Mond–Weir weak duality invex one. We prove that a problem is Kuhn–Tucker saddle point invex if and only if every point, which satisfies Kuhn–Tucker optimality conditions forms together with the respective Lagrange multiplier a saddle point of the Lagrange function. We prove that a problem is Mond–Weir weak duality invex if and only if weak duality holds between the problem and its Mond–Weir dual one. Additionally, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions, which ensure that strong duality holds between the problem with inequality constraints and its Wolfe dual. Connections with previously defined invexity notions are discussed.     

The contact boundary of a complex polynomial

 We define the contact boundary of a complex polynomial f : ℂ ⁿ → ℂ as the intersection of some generic fiber with a large sphere. We show that, up to contact isotopy, this does not depend on the choice of the fiber (provided it is generic) and is invariant under polynomial automorphism of ℂ ⁿ . We next prove that the formal homotopy class of this contact boundary is invariant in a large family of deformations of polynomials, which are not necessarily topologically trivial. Received: 15 November 2002 Published online: 20 March 2003 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 32S55, 53D15, 32S50     

Solonnikov parabolic systems with quasihomogeneous structure

We consider a new class of systems of equations that combine the structures of Solonnikov and éidel’man parabolic systems. We prove a theorem on the reduction of a general initial-value problem to a problem with zero initial data and a theorem on the correct solvability of an initial-value problem in a model case. __________ Translated from Ukrains’kyi Matematychnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 58, No. 11, pp. 1501–1510, November, 2006.     

Existence of a solution for a Signorini contact problem for Maxwell-Norton materials

The aim of this article is to study the quasistatic evolutionof a Maxwell–Norton three-dimensional viscoelastic solidwith contact constraints. After introducing the appropiate functionalframework, we will discretize the problem in time using an implicitscheme whose resultant variational inequality is well posed.By using monotonicity arguments together with compensated compactnesstechniques, we will prove that the corresponding discrete solutionconverges to a solution of the continuous problem.     

Quasistatic Frictional Problems for Elastic and Viscoelastic Materials

We consider two quasistatic problems which describe the frictional contact between a deformable body and an obstacle, the so-called foundation. In the first problem the body is assumed to have a viscoelastic behavior, while in the other it is assumed to be elastic. The frictional contact is modeled by a general velocity dependent dissipation functional. We derive weak formulations for the models and prove existence and uniqueness results. The proofs are based on the theory of evolution variational inequalities and fixed-point arguments. We also prove that the solution of the viscoelastic problem converges to the solution of the corresponding elastic problem, as the viscosity tensor converges to zero. Finally, we describe a number of concrete contact and friction conditions to which our results apply.     

A class of semi-linear equations of evolution

In this paper we prove existence, and study the asymptotic behavior of mild solutions of a class of semi-linear equations of evolution which are characterized by the fact that the associated homogeneous linear problem “generates” a strongly continuous semi-group of compact operators. We also prove a regularity result for which the associated homogeneous linear problem generates a holomorphic semi-group.     

Stein domains and branched shadows of 4-manifolds

We provide sufficient conditions assuring that a suitably decorated 2-polyhedron can be thickened to a compact four-dimensional Stein domain. We also study a class of flat polyhedra in 4-manifolds and find conditions assuring that they admit Stein, compact neighborhoods. We base our calculations on Turaev’s shadows suitably “smoothed”; the conditions we find are purely algebraic and combinatorial. Applying our results, we provide examples of hyperbolic 3-manifolds admitting “many” positive and negative Stein fillable contact structures, and prove a four-dimensional analog of Oertel’s result on incompressibility of surfaces carried by branched polyhedra.      

History-dependent subdifferential inclusions and hemivariational inequalities in contact mechanics

We consider a class of subdifferential inclusions involving a history-dependent term for which we provide an existence and uniqueness result. The proof is based on arguments on pseudomonotone operators and fixed point. Then we specialize this result in the study of a class of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities. Such kind of problems arises in a large number of mathematical models which describe quasistatic processes of contact between a deformable body and an obstacle, the so-called foundation. To provide an example we consider a viscoelastic problem in which the frictional contact is modeled with subdifferential boundary conditions. We prove that this problem leads to a history-dependent hemivariational inequality in which the unknown is the velocity field. Then we apply our abstract result in order to prove the unique weak solvability of the corresponding contact problem.     

Problem on small motions and normal oscillations of capillary viscous liquids in rotating vessels

The new recent results of the author are applied to study the problem. We begin from the problem posing. Then we consider the problem as a system of operator equations in a Hilbert space. Further, the initial-boundary value problem is reduced to the Cauchy problem for the abstract parabolic equation; this allows us to prove the unique solvability theorem. Then we study normal oscillations of the hydraulic system under the assumption of static stability with respect to the linear approximation. We prove results about the spectrum of the problem and prove that the system of root functions (eigenfunctions and associated functions) form a basis. Also, we prove that if the static stability assumption is not satisfied, then the inversion of Lagrange’s theorem on the stability is valid.     

Analysis and numerical solution of a piezoelectric frictional contact problem

We consider a mathematical model which describes the frictional contact between an electro-elastic–visco-plastic body and a conductive foundation. The contact is modelled with normal compliance and a version of Coulomb’s law of dry friction, in which the stiffness and the friction coefficients depend on the electric potential. We derive a variational formulation of the problem and we prove an existence and uniqueness result. The proof is based on a recent existence and uniqueness result on history-dependent quasivariational inequalities obtained in [15]. Then we introduce a fully discrete scheme for solving the problem and, under certain solution regularity assumptions, we derive an optimal order error estimate. Finally, we present some numerical results in the study of a two-dimensional test problem which describes the process of contact in a microelectromechanical switch.     

Numerical analysis of the Navier–Stokes/Darcy coupling

We consider a differential system based on the coupling of the Navier–Stokes and Darcy equations for modeling the interaction between surface and porous-media flows. We formulate the problem as an interface equation, we analyze the associated (nonlinear) Steklov–Poincaré operators, and we prove its well-posedness. We propose and analyze iterative methods to solve a conforming finite element approximation of the coupled problem.     

History-dependent variational–hemivariational inequalities in contact mechanics

We consider an abstract class of variational–hemivariational inequalities which arise in the study of a large number of mathematical models of contact. The novelty consists in the structure of the inequalities which involve two history-dependent operators and two nondifferentiable functionals, a convex and a nonconvex one. For these inequalities we provide an existence and uniqueness result of the solution. The proof is based on arguments of surjectivity for pseudomonotone operators and fixed point. Then, we consider a viscoelastic problem in which the contact is frictionless and is modeled with a new boundary condition which describes both the instantaneous and the memory effects of the foundation. We prove that this problem leads to a history-dependent variational–hemivariational inequality in which the unknown is the displacement field. We apply our abstract result in order to prove the unique weak solvability of this viscoelastic contact problem.