On the Linearization of Semilinear Wave Equations

We consider the class of wave equations u _tt−u _xx=f(u, u _t, u _x). By using the differential invariants, with respect to the equivalence transformation algebra of this class, we characterize subclasses of linearizable equations. Wide classes of general solutions for some nonlinear forms of f(u, u _t, u _x) are found.     

Reaction–Diffusion Equations with Nonlinear Boundary Delay

We consider dissipative scalar reaction–diffusion equations that include the ones of the form u _t–u=f(u(t)), subjected to boundary conditions that include small delays, that is, we consider boundary conditions of the form u/n _a=g(u(t), u(t–r)). We show the global existence and uniqueness of solutions in a convenient fractional power space, and furthermore, we show that, for r sufficiently small, all bounded solutions are asymptotic to the set of equilibria as t tends to infinity.     

Two-phase geothermal flows with conduction and the connection with Buckley-Leverett theory

Two-phase flows of boiling water and steam in geothermal reservoirs satisfy a pair of conservation equations for mass and energy which can be combined to yield a hyperbolic wave equation for liquid saturation changes. Recent work has established that in the absence of conduction, the geothermal saturation equation is, under certain conditions, asymptotically identical with the Buckley-Leverett equation of oil recovery theory. Here we summarise this work and show that it may be extended to include conduction. In addition we show that the geothermal saturation wave speed is under all conditions formally identical with the Buckley-Leverett wave speed when the latter is written as the saturation derivative of a volumetric flow.Roman Letters C(P, S,q) geothermal saturation wave speed [ms^–1] (14) - c _t (P, S) two-phase compressibility [Pa^–1] (10) - D(P, S) diffusivity [m s^–2] (8) - E(P, S) energy density accumulation [J m^–3] (3) - g gravitational acceleration (positive downwards) [ms^–2] - h _w (P),h _w (P) specific enthalpies [J kg^–1] - J _M (P, S,P) mass flow [kg m^–2 s^–1] (5) - J _E (P, S,P) energy flow [J m^–2s^–1] (5) - k absolute permeability (constant) [m²] - k _w (S),k _s (S) relative permeabilities of liquid and vapour phases - K formation thermal conductivity (constant) [Wm^–1 K^–1] - L lower sheetC<0 in flow plane - m, c gradient and intercept - M(P, S) mass density accumulation [kg m^–3] (3) - O flow plane origin - P(x,t) pressure (primary dependent variable) [Pa] - q volume flow [ms^–1] (6) - S(x, t) liquid saturation (primary dependent variable) - S ^*(x,t) normalised saturation (Appendix) - t time (primary independent variable) [s] - T temperature (degrees Kelvin) [K] - T _sat(P) saturation line temperature [K] - TdT _sat/dP saturation line temperature derivative [K Pa^–1] (4) - T _c ,T _D convective and diffusive time constants [s] - u _w (P),u _s (P),u _r (P) specific internal energies [J kg^–1] - U upper sheetC > 0 in flow plane - U(x,t) shock velocity [m s^–1] - x spatial position (primary independent variable) [m] - X representative length - x, y flow plane coordinates - z depth variable (+z vertically downwards) [m] Greek Letters _P , _S remainder terms [Pa s^–1], [s^–1] - double-valued saturation region in the flow plane - h =h _s –h _w latent heat [J kg^–1] - = _w – _s density difference [kg m^–3] - line envelope - =D _K /D ₀ diffusivity ratio - porosity (constant) - _w (P), _s (P), _t (P, S) dynamic viscosities [Pa s] - v _w (P),v _s (P) kinematic viscosities [m²s^–1] - v ₀ =kh/KT kinematic viscosity constant [m² s^–1] - ₀ =v ₀ dynamic viscosity constant [m² s^–1] - _w (P), _s (P) density [kg m^–3] Suffixes r rock matrix - s steam (vapour) - w water (liquid) - t total - av average - 0 without conduction - K with conduction     

Asymptotic Variational Wave Equations

We investigate the equation (u _t +(f(u)) _x ) _x =f ^{′ ′}(u) (u _x )²/2 where f(u) is a given smooth function. Typically f(u)=u ²/2 or u ³/3. This equation models unidirectional and weakly nonlinear waves for the variational wave equation u _tt − c(u) (c(u)u _x ) _x =0 which models some liquid crystals with a natural sinusoidal c. The equation itself is also the Euler–Lagrange equation of a variational problem. Two natural classes of solutions can be associated with this equation. A conservative solution will preserve its energy in time, while a dissipative weak solution loses energy at the time when singularities appear. Conservative solutions are globally defined, forward and backward in time, and preserve interesting geometric features, such as the Hamiltonian structure. On the other hand, dissipative solutions appear to be more natural from the physical point of view.We establish the well-posedness of the Cauchy problem within the class of conservative solutions, for initial data having finite energy and assuming that the flux function f has a Lipschitz continuous second-order derivative. In the case where f is convex, the Cauchy problem is well posed also within the class of dissipative solutions. However, when f is not convex, we show that the dissipative solutions do not depend continuously on the initial data.     

Global Nonexistence for Nonlinear Kirchhoff Systems

In this paper we consider the problem of non-continuation of solutions of dissipative nonlinear Kirchhoff systems, involving the p(x)-Laplacian operator and governed by nonlinear driving forces f = f (t, x, u), as well as nonlinear external damping terms Q = Q(t, x, u, u _t ), both of which could significantly dependent on the time t. The theorems are obtained through the study of the natural energy Eu associated to the solutions u of the systems. Thanks to a new approach of the classical potential well and concavity methods, we show the nonexistence of global solutions, when the initial energy is controlled above by a critical value; that is, when the initial data belong to a specific region in the phase plane. Several consequences, interesting in applications, are given in particular subcases. The results are original also for the scalar standard wave equation when p ≡ 2 and even for problems linearly damped.     

Crack size and speed interaction characteristics at micro-, meso- and macro-scale

The motivation to examine physical events at even smaller size scale arises from the development of use-specific materials where information transfer from one micro- or macro-element to another could be pre-assigned. There is the growing belief that the cumulated macroscopic experiences could be related to those at the lower size scales. Otherwise, there serves little purpose to examine material behavior at the different scale levels. Size scale, however, is intimately associated with time, not to mention temperature. As the size and time scales are shifted, different physical events may be identified. Dislocations with the movements of atoms, shear and rotation of clusters of molecules with inhomogeneity of polycrystals; and yielding/fracture with bulk properties of continuum specimens. Piecemeal results at the different scale levels are vulnerable to the possibility that they may be incompatible. The attention should therefore be focused on a single formulation that has the characteristics of multiscaling in size and time. The fact that the task may be overwhelmingly difficult cannot be used as an excuse for ignoring the fundamental aspects of the problem.Local nonlinearity is smeared into a small zone ahead of the crack. A “restrain stress” is introduced to also account for cracking at the meso-scale.The major emphasis is placed on developing a model that could exhibit the evolution characteristics of change in cracking behavior due to size and speed. Material inhomogeneity is assumed to favor self-similar crack growth although this may not always be the case. For relatively high restrain stress, the possible nucleation of micro-, meso- and macro-crack can be distinguished near the crack tip region. This distinction quickly disappears after a small distance after which scaling is no longer possible. This character prevails for Mode I and II cracking at different speeds. Special efforts are made to confine discussions within the framework of assumed conditions. To be kept in mind are the words of Isaac Newton in the Fourth Regula Philosophandi:

“Men are often led into error by the love of simplicity which disposes us to reduce things to few principles, and to conceive a greater simplicity in nature than there really is … We may learn something of the way in which nature operates from fact and observation; but if we conclude that it operates in such a manner, only because to our understanding that operates to be the best and simplest manner, we shall always go wrong.”––Isaac Newton

Liquid–crystalline nematic polymers revisited

A new model for nematic polymers is proposed, based on the probability ψ(u,u,t) for a macromolecule to be oriented along direction u while embedded in a u environment created by its neighbours. The potential of the internal forces is written Φ(u,u) accordingly. The free energy contains a contribution ν Φ + k_BT ln ψ where the brackets mean an average over the probability distribution, while ν is the (uniform) polymer number density. An equation is derived for the time-evolution of the order parameter S = uu − I/3, together with an expression for the stress tensor. These two results offer a generalization of the Doi Model in so far as they include a distortional energy, analogue to the Frank elastic energy for low molecular mass nematics. Extending the Maier–Saupe variational procedure, we specify the way that the internal potential Φ(u,u) must be written for it to favour non-zero values of the order parameter, while giving a penalty to situations with gradients of the order parameter. The result is quite different from the potential proposed a decade ago by Marrucci and Greco (their Φ depends on u only), while it has a clear connection with the so-called Landau-de Gennes (LdG) tensor models, which are based on a free-energy depending on the order parameter and its gradients.     

Large Eddy Simulations: How to evaluate resolution

The present paper gives an analysis of fully developed channel flow at Reynolds number of Re=u_τδ/ν=4000 based on the friction velocity, u_τ, and half the channel height, δ. Since the Reynolds number is high, the LES is coupled to a URANS model near the wall (hybrid LES–RANS) which acts as a wall model. It it found that the energy spectra is not a good measure of LES resolution; neither is the ratio of the resolved turbulent kinetic energy to the total one (i.e. resolved plus modelled turbulent kinetic energy). It is suggested that two-point correlations are the best measures for estimating LES resolution. It is commonly assumed that SGS dissipation takes place at high wavenumbers. Energy spectra of the fluctuating velocity gradients show that this is not true; the major part of the SGS dissipation takes place at low to midrange wavenumbers. Furthermore, the energy spectra of the fluctuating velocity gradients reveals that the accuracy of the predicted velocity gradients at the highest resolved wavenumbers is very poor.     

The L1-Stability of Boundary Layers for Scalar Viscous Conservation Laws

Let v=v(x) be a non-trivial bounded steady solution of a viscous scalar conservation law u _t+f(u) _x =u _xx on a half-line R⁺, with a Dirichlet boundary condition. The semi-group of this IBVP is known to be contractive for the distance d(u, u)u–u₁ induced by L ¹(R⁺). We prove here that v is asymptotically stable with respect to d: if u ₀–vL ¹, then u(t)–v₁0 as t+. When v is a constant, we show that this property holds if and only if f(v)0. These results complement our study of the Cauchy problem [2].     

Hydromagnetic stagnation point flow of a viscous fluid over?a?stretching or shrinking sheet

We establish the existence and uniqueness results over the semi-infinite interval [0,∞) for a class of nonlinear third order ordinary differential equations of the form

Bifurcations of Heteroclinic Orbits

The search for traveling wave solutions of a semilinear diffusion partial differential equation can be reduced to the search for heteroclinic solutions of the ordinary differential equation ü − cu̇ + f(u) = 0, where c is a positive constant and f is a nonlinear function. A heteroclinic orbit is a solution u(t) such that u(t) → γ ₁ as t → −∞ and u(t) → γ ₂ as t → ∞ where γ ₁, γ ₂ are zeros of f. We study the existence of heteroclinic orbits under various assumptions on the nonlinear function f and their bifurcations as c is varied. Our arguments are geometric in nature and so we make only minimal smoothness assumptions. We only assume that f is continuous and that the equation has a unique solution to the initial value problem. Under these weaker smoothness conditions we reprove the classical result that for large c there is a unique positive heteroclinic orbit from 0 to 1 when f(0) = f(1) = 0 and f(u) > 0 for 0 < u < 1. When there are more zeros of f, there is the possibility of bifurcations of the heteroclinic orbit as c varies. We give a detailed analysis of the bifurcation of the heteroclinic orbits when f is zero at the five points −1 < −θ < 0 < θ < 1 and f is odd. The heteroclinic orbit that tends to 1 as t → ∞ starts at one of the three zeros, −θ, 0, θ as t → −∞. It hops back and forth among these three zeros an infinite number of times in a predictable sequence as c is varied.     

Atmospheric boundary layer simulation in a wind tunnel, using air injection

The inner part of a neutral atmospheric boundary layer has been simulated in a wind tunnel, using air injection through the wind tunnel floor to thicken the boundary layer. The flow over both a rural area and an urban area has been simulated by adapting the roughness of the wind tunnel floor. Due to the thickening of the boundary layer the scaling factor of atmospheric boundary layer simulation with air injection is considerably smaller than that without air injection. This reduction of the scaling factor is very important for the simulation of atmospheric dispersion problems in a wind tunnel.The time-mean velocity distribution, turbulence intensity, Reynolds stress and turbulence spectra have been measured in the inner part of the wind tunnel boundary layer. The results are in rather good agreement with atmospheric measurements.Nomenclature d Zero plane displacement, m - h Height of roughness elements, m - k Von Kármán's constant - n Frequency of turbulence velocity component, s^–1 - S _u(n) Energy spectrum for longitudinal turbulence velocity component, m² s^–1 - S _v(n) Energy spectrum for lateral turbulence velocity component, m² s^–1 - S _w(n) Energy spectrum for vertical turbulence velocity component, m² s^–1 - U _o Free stream velocity outside the boundary layer, m s^–1 - Time-mean velocity inside the boundary layer, m s^–1 - u* Wall-friction velocity, m s^–1 - u Longitudinal turbulence intensity, m s^–1 - v Lateral turbulence intensity, m s^–1 - w Vertical turbulence intensity, m s^–1 - Reynolds stress, m² s^–2 - z Height above earth's surface or wind tunnel floor, m - z _o Roughness length, m - Thickness of inner part of boundary layer, m - Thickness of boundary layer, m - Kinematic viscosity, m² s^–1     

On the thermodynamics of some generalized second-grade fluids

The generalized second-grade fluids, which have been used for modeling the creep of ice and the flow of coal-water and coal-oil slurries, are among the simplest non-Newtonian fluid models that can describe shear-thinning/thickening and exhibit normal stress effects. In this article, we conduct thermodynamic analysis on a class of generalized second-grade fluids, one distinguishing feature of which is the existence of a constitutive function Φ that describes frictional heating. We work within the framework of Serrin’s original formulation of neoclassical thermodynamics, where internal energy and entropy functions, if they exist for a continuous body at all, are to be derived from the classical First Law and (quantitatively reformulated) Second Law of thermodynamics for cycles. For the class of generalized second-grade fluids in question, we show from the First Law that an internal energy density u exists, and we derive the equation of energy balance; from the Second Law, we demonstrate the existence of an entropy density s and derive the Clausius–Duhem inequality that it satisfies. We obtain explicit expressions for u, s and the frictional heating Φ, and derive thermodynamic restrictions on the material functions of temperature μ, α ₁, and α ₂ that appear in the constitutive relation for the Cauchy stress. For the special case of second-grade fluids, our expressions for u and s agree with those which Dunn and Fosdick [6] derived under the theoretical framework of the rational thermodynamics of Coleman and Noll.     

Flow around a circular cylinder—structure of the near wake shear layer

The separated shear layer in the near wake of a circular cylinder was investigated using a single hot wire probe, with special attention given to the shear layer instability characteristics. Without end plates to force parallel vortex shedding, the critical Reynolds number for the onset of the instability was 740. The present data, together with all previously published data, show that the ratio of the instability frequency f_sl to the vortex shedding frequency f_v varies as Re^0.65, which is in agreement with the Re^0.67 dependence obtained by Prasad and Williamson [1997, J Fluid Mech 333:375–402]. However, the distribution of f_sl/f_v and the spectra of the longitudinal velocity fluctuation (u) suggest that, on either side of Re=5,000, the shear layer exhibits lower and upper subcritical regimes, in support of the observations by Norberg [1987, publication no. 87/2, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden] and Prasad and Williamson [1997, J Fluid Mech 343:235–265]. The spectra of u provide strong evidence for the occurrence of vortex pairing in wake shear layers, suggesting that the near wake develops in a similar manner to a mixing layer.     

Local energy decay for the wave equation on the exterior of two balls or convex bodies

An algebraic rate of decay of local energy, nonuniform with respect to the initial data, is established for solutions of the Dirichlet and Neumann problems for the scalar wave equation defined on the exterior V³ of two balls or of two convex bodies. That is, for given initial data f(x)=u(x), 0 and g(x)= u _t (x, 0), if u solves u _tt in V with either u(x, t)=0 or u _n (x,t)+(x) u(x,t,)-0 ((x)0) on V, then there exists a constant T ₀, depending upon (f, g), such that the local energy (the energy in any compact set) of u at t=T is bounded from above by QE(0)T ^–1 for TT ₀, where E(0) is the total initial energy of u and Q is a positive constant, independent of u, that depends upon V.     

An Efficient Derivation of the Aronsson Equation

For 1<p<∞, the equation which characterizes minima of the functional u↦∫ _U |Du| ^p ,dx subject to fixed values of u on ∂U is −Δ _p u=0. Here −Δ _p is the well-known ``p-Laplacian'. When p=∞ the corresponding functional is u↦|| |Du|<sup>2</sup>|| <sub>L∞(U)</sub> . A new feature arises in that minima are no longer unique unless U is allowed to vary, leading to the idea of ``absolute minimizers'. Aronsson showed that then the appropriate equation is −Δ_∞ u=0, that is, u is ``infinity harmonic' as explained below. Jensen showed that infinity harmonic functions, understood in the viscosity sense, are precisely the absolute minimizers. Here we advance results of Barron, Jensen and Wang concerning more general functionals u↦||f(x,u,Du)|| _L∞(U) by giving a simplified derivation of the corresponding necessary condition under weaker hypotheses. (Accepted September 6, 2002) Published online April 14, 2003 Communicated by S. Muller     

Dynamic interaction of various beams with the underlying soil – finite and infinite, half-space and Winkler models

Various beams lying on the elastic half-space and subjected to a harmonic load are analyzed by a double numerical integration in wavenumber domain. The compliances of the beam–soil systems are presented for a wide frequency range and for a number of realistic parameter sets. Generally, the soil stiffness G has a strong influence on the low-frequency beam compliance whereas the beam parameters EI and m^′ are more important for the high-frequency compliance. An important parameter is the elastic length l=(EI/G)^1/4 of the beam–soil system. Around the corresponding frequency ω_l=v_S/l, the wave velocity of the combined beam–soil system changes from the Rayleigh wave v_R≈v_S to the bending wave velocity v_B and the combined beam–soil wave has typically a strong damping. The interaction frequency ω_l is found not far from the characteristic frequency ω₀=(G/m^′)^1/2 where an amplification compared to the static compliance is observed for special parameter constellations. In contrast, real foundation beams show no resonance effects as they are highly damped by the radiation into the soil. At medium and high frequencies, asymptotes for the compliance of the beam–soil system are found, u/P(ρv_Paiω)^−3/4 in case of the dominating damping and u/P(−m^′ω²)^−3/4 for high frequencies. The low-frequency compliance of the coupled beam–soil system can be approximated by u/P1/Gl, but it also depends weakly on the width a of the foundation. All numerical results of different beam–soil systems are evaluated to yield a unique relation u/P₀=f(a/l). The integral transform method is also applied to ballasted and slab tracks of railway lines, showing the influence of train speed on the deformation of the track beam. The presented results of infinite beams on half-space are compared with results of finite beams and with infinite beams on a Winkler support. Approximating Winkler parameters are given for realistic foundation-soil systems which are useful when vehicle-track interaction is analyzed for the prediction of railway induced vibration.     

Measuring Fracture Energy in a Brittle Polymeric Material

The dynamic fracture behavior of a brittle polymer, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), was studied using single-edge-cracked tensile specimens and the method of caustics in combination with high-speed photography. The dynamic response of the specimen and the state of local stress near the crack tip, i.e., the stress intensity factor K, were measured. To analyze the dynamic response, the external work, U_ex, applied to the specimen was partitioned into three components: the elastic energy, E_e; non-elastic energy, E_n, due to viscoelastic and plastic deformation; and fracture energy, E_f, for creating a new fracture surface, A_s. The results showed that E_e, E_n, and E_f increased with U_ex, and the ratio E_f/U_ex was about 46% over a wide range of U_ex. Energy release rates were estimated using G_t = U_ex/A_s and G_f = E_f/A_s. The mean energy release rate, G_m, during dynamic crack propagation was also determined using the value of K. A good correlation between G_f and G_m was found.     

Heat and mass transfer characteristics of the self-similar boundary-layer flows induced by continuous surfaces stretched with rapidly decreasing velocities

The mechanical and thermal characteristics of the self-similar boundary-layer flows induced by continuous surfaces stretched with rapidly decreasing power-law velocities U _w∝x ^m , m<?1 are considered. Comparing to the well studied cases of the increasing stretching velocities (m>0) several new features of basic significance have been found. Thus: (i) for m<?1 the boundary layer equations admit self-similar solutions only if a lateral suction is applied; (ii) the dimensionless suction velocity f _w<0 must be strong enough, i.e. f _w<f _w,max(m) where f _w,max(m) depends on m so that its absolute maximum max (f _w,max(m))=?2.279 is reached for m→?∞, while for m→?1, f _w,max(m)→?∞; (iii) the case {m→?∞, f _w,max(m)=?2.279} of the flow boundary value problem is isomorphic to the stretching problems with exponentially decreasing velocities U _w∝e ^ax with arbitrary a<0; (iv) for any fixed m<?1 and f _w<f _w,max(m) the flow problem admits a non-denumerable infinity of multiple solutions corresponding to the values of the dimensionless skin friction f ^″(0)≡s belonging to a finite interval s∈ [s _min(f _w,m), s _max(f _w,m)]; (v) the solution is only unique for f _w=f _w,max(m) where s=s _min(f _w,m)= s _max(f _w,m) holds; (vi) to every one of the multiple solutions of the flow problem there corresponds a unique solution of the heat transfer problem with a wall temperature distribution T _w?T _∞∝x ⁿ and a well defined and distinct value of the dimensionless wall temperature gradient ?^′(0), except for the cases n=(|m|?1)/2 where ?^′(0) has the same value ?^′(0)=Pr·f _w for the whole class of flow solutions with s∈[s _min(f _w,m), s _max(f _w,m)]; (vii) for f _w→?∞ one obtains the `asymptotic suction profiles' corresponding to s=s _min(f _w,m)?f _w and ?^′(0)?Pr·f _w in an explicit analytic form. The paper includes several examples which illustrate the dependence of the heat and fluid flows induced by surfaces stretching with rapidly decreasing velocities on the physical parameters f _w, m, n and Pr.     

Second-order nonlinear differential equations with infinite set of periodic solutions

For the differential equation u″ = f(t, u, u′), where the function f: R × R ² → R is periodic in the first variable and f (t, x, 0) ≡ 0, sufficient conditions for the existence of a continuum of nonconstant periodic solutions are found. Published in Neliniini Kolyvannya, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 495–500, October–December, 2008.