The longtime behavior of a nonlinear Reissner-Mindlin plate with exponentially decreasing memory kernels

In this paper we investigate the longtime behavior of the mathematical model of a homogeneous viscoelastic plate based on Reissner-Mindlin deformation shear assumptions. According to the approximation procedure due to Lagnese for the Kirchhoff viscoelastic plate, the resulting motion equations for the vertical displacement and the angle deflection of vertical fibers are derived in the framework of the theory of linear viscoelasticity. Assuming that in general both Lame's functions, λ and μ, depend on time, the coupling terms between the equations of displacement and deflection depend on hereditary contributions. We associate to the model a nonlinear semigroup and show the behavior of the energy when time goes on. In particular, assuming that the kernels λ and μ decay exponentially, and not too weakly with respect to the physical properties considered in the model, then the energy decays uniformly with respect to the initial conditions; i.e., we prove the existence of an absorbing set for the semigroup associated to the model.     

Osculating spaces to secant varieties

We generalize the classical Terracini’s Lemma to higher order osculating spaces to secant varieties. As an application, we address with the so-called Horace method the case of thed-Veronese embedding of the projective 3-space. This research is part of the T.A.S.C.A. project of I.N.d.A.M., supported by P.A.T. (Trento) and M.I.U.R. (Italy).     

Global attractors for the coupled suspension bridge system with temperature

This paper deals with the long‐term properties of the thermoelastic nonlinear string‐beam system related to the well‐known Lazer–McKenna suspension bridge model (0.1) In particular, no mechanical dissipation occurs in the equations, because the loss of energy is entirely due to thermal effects. The existence of regular global attractors for the associated solution semigroup is proved (without resorting to a bootstrap argument) for time‐independent supplies f,g,h and any . Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Tikhonov regularization method in elastoplasticity

The numerical simulation of the mechanical behavior of industrial materials is widely used for viability verification, improvement and optimization of designs. Elastoplastic models have been used to forecast the mechanical behavior of different materials. The numerical solution of most elastoplastic models comes across problems of ill-condition matrices. A complete representation of the nonlinear behavior of such structures involves the nonlinear equilibrium path of the body and handling of singular (limit) points and/or bifurcation points. Several techniques to solve numerical problems associated to these points have been disposed in the specialized literature. Two examples are the load-controlled Newton–Raphson method and displacement controlled techniques. However, most of these methods fail due to convergence problems (ill-conditioning) in the neighborhood of limit points, specially when the structure presents snap-through or snap-back equilibrium paths. This study presents the main ideas and formalities of the Tikhonov regularization method and shows how this method can be used in the analysis of dynamic elastoplasticity problems. The study presents a rigorous mathematical demonstration of existence and uniqueness of the solution of well-posed dynamic elastoplasticity problems. The numerical solution of dynamic elastoplasticity problems using Tikhonov regularization is presented in this paper. The Galerkin method is used in this formulation. Effectiveness of Tikhonov’s approach in the regularization of the solution of elastoplasticity problems is demonstrated by means of some simple numerical examples.     

Reconciling local realism and quantum physics: A critique to Bell

A metatheoretical generalized principle (MGP) is stated that formalizes an operational non-standard way of looking at the laws of physics. In quantum physics MGP leads to the invalidation of Bell's inequality without renouncing a minimal form of realism or locality. Therefore, the violation of Bell's inequality predicted by quantum physics does not appear to be paradoxical if MGP is accepted.Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università-Lecce, Italy. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 99, No. 2, pp. 285–291, May, 1994.     

The Dold-Lashof-Fuchs construction revisited

Sia dato uno spazio topologicoE con azione di un monoide topologicoH e siaE→B una funzione continue che, su ogni apertoU di una partizione dell'unità diB, sia, a meno di omotopia, la proiezioneU×H→U (ovvero una fibrazione numerabile). Un classico risultato di A. Dold e R. Lashof (1959) permette di costruire, a partire daE→B, una funzione continuaE _∞→B_∞, conE _∞ debolmente contraibile e munito di azione diH: laH-fibrazione universale associata daH. Tale funzione, in generale, non è purtroppo numerabile e quindi non si presta alla classificazione delleH-fibrazioni numerabili. Successivamente (1971), M. Fuchs ha trovato un modo di modificare la costruzione di Dold-Lashof per recuperare la numerabilità. La costruzione di Dold-Lashof-Fuchs è, da allora, uno dei principali strumenti nella teoria degli spazi classificanti di monoidi topologici, anche se vi è un uso di topologie alquanto complesse e quindi poco maneggevoli. In questo lavoro ci proponiamo di mostrare come, lavorando nella categoria conveniente deik-spazi, sia possibile descrivere la costruzione di Dold-Lashof-Fuchs in modo estremamente semplificato ed adattarla anche alla classificazione delleF-fibrazioni numerabili.

---

Conferenza tenuta da R. Piccinini il 15 maggio 1995     

On the spectrum of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian

The quantum, antiferromagnetic, spin-1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonian on thed-dimensional cubic lattice ^d is considered for any dimensiond. First the anisotropic case is considered for small transversal coupling and a convergent expansion is given for a family of eigenprojections which is complete in all finite-volume truncations. Then the general case is considered, for which an upper bound to the ground-state energy is given which is optimal for strong enough anisotropy. This bound is expressed through a functional involving the statistical expectation value at finite temperature of a certain correlation function of an Ising model defined on the lattice ^d itself.     

Nonlinear wave propagation in constrained solids subjected to thermal loads

The classical mathematical treatment governing nonlinear wave propagation in solids relies on finite strain theory. In this scenario, a system of nonlinear partial differential equations can be derived to mathematically describe nonlinear phenomena such as acoustoelasticity (wave speed dependency on quasi-static stress), wave interaction, wave distortion, and higher-harmonic generation. The present work expands the topic of nonlinear wave propagation to the case of a constrained solid subjected to thermal loads. The origin of nonlinear effects in this case is explained on the basis of the anharmonicity of interatomic potentials, and the absorption of the potential energy corresponding to the (prevented) thermal expansion. Such “residual” energy is, at least, cubic as a function of strain, hence leading to a nonlinear wave equation and higher-harmonic generation. Closed-form solutions are given for the longitudinal wave speed and the second-harmonic nonlinear parameter as a function of interatomic potential parameters and temperature increase. The model predicts a decrease in longitudinal wave speed and a corresponding increase in nonlinear parameter with increasing temperature, as a result of the thermal stresses caused by the prevented thermal expansion of the solid. Experimental measurements of the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter on a steel block under constrained thermal expansion confirm this trend. These results suggest the potential of a nonlinear ultrasonic measurement to quantify thermal stresses from prevented thermal expansion. This knowledge can be extremely useful to prevent thermal buckling of various structures, such as continuous-welded rails in hot weather.