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Variational problems with thin obstacles

University of British Columbia

In this thesis the solution to the variational problem of Signorini is studied, namely: (i) Δv = 0 in Ω; (ii) v ≥ ѱ on əΩ; (iii) əv/əѵ ≤ g on əΩ; (iv) (v- ѱ) (əv/əѵ – g) = 0 on əΩ where Ω is a domain in R[sup n], and v is the unit inner normal vector to əΩ. In the case n = 2 a regularity theorem is proved. It is shown that if ѱ Є C[sup 1,α] (əΩ), g Є Lip α(əΩ) then v Є C[sup 1,α] (əΩ) if α < 1/2 . An example is given to shown that this result is optimal. The method of proof relies on techniques of complex analysis and therefore does not extend to higher dimensions. For n > 2 the case where Ω, is unbounded, or equivalently, where ѱ is unbounded in a neighbourhood of some point of əΩ is considered. This is a situation where known existence theorems do not apply. Some sufficient conditions for the pair (ѱ,g) are derived that will ensure the existence of a solution in this case, thereby extending some results obtained by A. Beurling and P. Malliavin in the two dimensional case. The proof involves a variational problem in a Hilbert space analogous to the one considered by Beurling and Malliavin, and some pointwise estimates of Riesz transforms.

Text

2010-03-01

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/21284

Mathematics

University of British Columbia

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