Fourth order nonselfadjoint differential equations with clamped-free boundary conditions

Summary A class of nonselfadjoint fourth order differential equations is investigated in this paper by a pair of equations of the second order. Special attention is given to establishing conditions for the existence of solutions subject to two point boundary conditions, and is achieved basically through various characterizations, comparison theorems and related eigenvalue problems. Entrata in Redazione il 1^o giugno 1977. The first author is supported by the NRC of Canada under Grant number A3105.