PORTUGALIAE MATHEMATICA

Vol. 56 Fasc. 4 – 1999

KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS

IN NONCYLINDRICAL DOMAINS

J. Limaco Ferrel and L.A. Medeiros

In Memoriam Yukiyoshi Ebihara

Abstract: The existence and uniqueness of local and global solutions for the
Kirchhoff–Carrier nonlinear model for the vibrations of elastic strings in noncylindrical
domains are investigated by means of the Galerkin Method. The asymptotic behaviour
of the energy is also studied.

1 – Introduction

Let α : [0, T ] → R and β : [0, T ] → R, be two, twice continuously differentiable

functions such that:

α(t) < β(t) for all 0 ≤ t ≤ T .

b contained in R2 , defined by:
We consider the noncylindrical domain Q,
n o
b = (x, t) ∈ R2 : α(t) < x < β(t), for all 0 < t < T
Q .

b of Q
The lateral boundary Σ b is given by
[
b =
Σ {α(t), β(t)} × {t} .
0<t<T

In this work we investigate the existence, uniqueness and the asymptotic be-
haviour of solutions of the following noncylindrical mixed problem, for Kirchhoff–
Carrier elastic strings:
Received : January 12, 1998; Revised : February 18, 1998.
AMS Subject Classification: 35F30, 35K35.
Keywords: Kirchhoff–Carrier, Strings, Noncylindrical, Global solutions, Asymptotic
behaviour.
466 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

 µZ β(t) µ ¶ ¶ 2

 ∂2u ∂u 2 ∂ u b

 −M dx = f (x, t) in Q

 ∂t 2 ∂x ∂x2
 α(t)
(1.1) b
 u = 0 on Σ




 ∂u
 u(x, 0) = u0 (x), (x, 0) = u1 (x) in α(0) < x < β(0) .
∂t
In the bibliography at the end of this article a complete list of papers dealing
with the Kirchhoff–Carrier operator
µZ ¶
∂2w 2
Lw = −M |∇w| dx ∆w
∂t2 Ω

in a cylinder can be found. Regular global solutions are obtained in Arosio–

Spagnolo [1], Lions [13] and Pohozhaev [16]; local weak solutions in Ebihara–
Medeiros–Miranda [7] for the degenerate case, i.e. M (s) ≥ 0, cf. also Yamada
[17]. For perturbated Kirchhoff–Carrier operators see Arosio–Garivaldi [2].
We refer to Bainov and Minchev [6] for estimates on the interval of existence
of local solutions. Variational inequalities for Lu are discussed in Frota–Larkin
[8]. In these references complete information is given about the operator Lu.
For global existence in the cylindrical case we refer to Brito [4], Hosya–Yamada
[9] and Kouemou Patcheu [12]. Note that in this case initial data are chosen
inside a fixed ball. In the present work we also need to choose the initial data
satisfying analogous restrictions (see Section 6, Theorem 6.1, condition (6.10)).
In Nakao–Nakazaki [14], existence and decay for solutions of the nonlinear wave
equation, in noncylindrical domains for the d’Alembert operator 2 u = utt − ∆u
is investigated. They employed the penalty method as in Lions [14]. In the work
of Komornik–Zuazua [11], for d’Alembert operator with dissipative nonlinear
conditions on part of the boundary a method to study the asymptotic behaviour
of the energy was introduced. We adopt this method here to our case.
Some results for noncylindrical domains in dimensions n ≥ 2 will be published
elsewhere.
The plan of this work is as follows:
1. Introduction
2. Notations, Assumptions and Local Results
3. Approximations and Estimates
4. Proof of the Theorems
5. Applications
6. Global Solutions
7. Asymptotic Behaviour.
Bibliography
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 467

2 – Notations, assumptions and local results

We consider real functions α(t), β(t) and M (λ) satisfying the following con-
ditions:
(H1) α, β ∈ C 2 ([0, +∞]; R) with α(t) < β(t), α0 (t) ≤ 0, β 0 (t) ≥ 0 and
n o µ ¶1/2
0 0 m0
max |α (t)|, |β (t)| ≤
2
for all 0 ≤ t < ∞.
(H2) M ∈ C 1 ([0, ∞[; R) such that M (λ) ≥ m0 > 0 for all λ ≥ 0.

Remark 2.1. Note that the assumption α0 (t) ≤ 0 and β 0 (t) ≥ 0 means that
b is increasing in the sense that γ(t) = β(t) − α(t) is increasing.
Q

Remark 2.2. The condition

n o µ ¶1/2
0 0 m0
max |α (t)|, |β (t)| ≤
2
is equivalent to
¯ ¯ µ m ¶1/2
¯ 0 0 ¯ 0
¯α (t) + y γ (t)¯ ≤ , for all 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 .
2

In fact, if y = 0 and y = 1 in this last inequality we recover the hypothesis (H1).

Reciprocally, if (H1) is true we have:
µ ¶1/2 µ ¶1/2
0 m0 0 m0
|α (t)| ≤ and |β (t)| ≤ .
2 2

By (H1) we have α0 (t) ≤ 0 and β 0 (t) ≥ 0. Then

µ ¶1/2
m0
α0 (t) + y γ 0 (t) ≤ y β 0 (t) ≤ for all 0 ≤ y ≤ 1
2
and
³ ´ µ ¶1/2
0 0 0 0 0 0 m0
− α (t) + y β (t) ≤ −α (t) − β (t) + α (t) y ≤ −α (t) ≤
2
or
¯ ¯ µ m ¶1/2
¯ 0 0 ¯ 0
¯α (t) + y γ (t)¯ ≤ for all 0 ≤ y ≤ 1 .
2
468 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Remark 2.3. In the investigation of global solutions of (1.1) we make a

³ m ´1/2
0
stronger assumption; namely max{|α0 (t)|, |β 0 (t)} ≤ C with
2
µ ¶1/2 µ ¶
1 2 π
C = .
6 5 π+1

x−α
b the point (y, t), with y =
Observe that when (x, t) varies in Q varies in the
γ
b → Q, given by τ : (x, t) → (y, t) is
cylinder Q = ]0, 1] × ]0, T [ . The mapping τ : Q
a diffeomorphism. We transform system (1.1) by means of the change of variables

x−α
u(x, t) = v(y, t) with y = ,
γ

which transforms the operator

µZ β(t) µ ∂u ¶2 ¶
b = ∂2u ∂2u b
Lu −M dx in Q
∂t2 α(t) ∂x ∂x2

into the operator

µ Z µ ¶ ¶ µ ¶
∂2v 1 1 1 ∂v 2 ∂2v ∂ ∂v
Ľv = 2
− 2
M̌ dy 2
− a(y, t)
∂t γ γ 0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y
2
∂ v ∂v
+ b(y, t) + c(y, t) in Q .
∂t ∂y ∂y

Here we have
• dx = γ dy ,
m0 m0
• M̌ (λ) = M (λ) − ≥ >0,
2 2
µ ¶2
m0 α0 + γ 0 y
• a(y, t) = − >0,
2 γ2 γ
µ ¶
α0 + γ 0 y
• b(y, t) = −2 ,
γ
µ ¶
α00 + γ 00 y
• c(y, t) = − .
γ

Then, the noncylindrical mixed problem (1.1) is transformed in the following

 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 469

cylindrical mixed problem:



 Ľv(y, t) = g(y, t) in Q ,




(2.1) v(0, t) = v(1, t) = 0 on 0 < t < T ,



 ∂v

 v(y, 0) = v0 (y), (y, t) = v1 (y) on 0 < y < 1 .
∂y
We represent, as usual, by (( , )), k · k and ( , ), | · |, respectively, the scalar
product and norm in H01 (0, 1) and L2 (0, 1). By a(t, v, w) we denote the positive,
continuous, symmetric bilinear form in H01 (0, 1):
Z 1 ∂v ∂w
a(t, v, w) = a(y, t) dy .
0 ∂y ∂y
We have the following results:

Theorem 2.1. Let Ωt be the interval ]α(t), β(t)[ , 0 < t < T , and suppose
that (H1) and (H2) hold. Then, given

u0 ∈ H01 (Ω0 ) ∩ H 2 (Ω0 ) , u1 ∈ H01 (Ω0 ) , f ∈ L∞ ([0, T ]; H01 (Ωt )) ,

there exists 0 < T0 < T and a unique function

b0 → R ,
u: Q b 0 = Ω × ]0, T0 [ ,
Q

satisfying the conditions:

u ∈ L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (Ωt )∩H 2 (Ωt )), u0 ∈ L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (Ωt )), u00 ∈ L∞ (0, T0 ; L2 (Ωt )) ,
b0.
solution of (1.1) in Q

Theorem 2.2. Under the assumptions of Theorem 2.1, given

v0 ∈ H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1) , v1 ∈ H01 (0, 1) and g ∈ L∞ ([0, T ]; H01 (0, 1)) ,

there exists 0 < T0 < T and a unique function

v : Q0 → R

satisfying the conditions:

v ∈ L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1)) , v 0 ∈ L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (0, 1)) ,

which is solution of (2.1), in Q0 = ]0, 1[ × ]0, T0 [ .

470 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

x−α b we obtain the term

Remark 2.4. By the change of variables y = in Q
γ
α + γ y γ 0 ∂v ³ α0 + γ 0 y ´2 ∂ 2 v
2 + in (2.1) that gives serious trouble when we
γ γ ∂y γ ∂y 2
∂ 2v0
multiply both sides of the equation (2.1) by − 2 and integrate in Q. However,
∂y
under the assumptions (H1) and (H2), the bad terms can be absorbed by the
positive terms that the nonlinearity M (λ) provides. Indeed, we incorporate the
³ m m0 ´ ∂ 2 v m0 m0
0
term − 2 + 2 in Ľv, so that M̌ (λ) = M (λ) − > . The remaining
2γ 2 γ ∂y 2 2 2
terms can be written in divergence form:
µ ¶2
m0 ∂ 2 v α0 + γ 0 y γ 0 ∂v α0 + γ 0 y ∂2v
− 2 + 2 + =
2 γ ∂y 2 γ γ ∂y γ ∂y 2
Ã" µ ¶2 # !
∂ m0 α0 + γ 0 y ∂v
=− −
∂y 2 γ2 γ ∂y

giving a positive symmetric bilinear continuous form a(t, v, w), which can be
handled easily when getting a priori estimates. Thus the operator Ľv is well
adapted to apply the energy method.

Remark 2.5. When getting estimates for v 0 in H01 (0, 1) and v in H 2 (0, 1)
terms of the form · ¸ · ¸
β 0 ∂ v 0 (1, t) 2 (−α0 ) ∂ v 0 (0, t) 2
+
γ ∂y γ ∂y
appear. In order to guarantee its positivity we need that α0 ≤ 0 and β 0 ≥ 0 or, in
b is increasing.
other words, that Q

3 – Approximations and estimates

Let {wj }, j = 1, 2, ..., be the solutions of the spectral problem:

((wj , v)) = λj (wj , v), for all v ∈ H01 (0, 1) .

They can be chosen to constitute an orthonormal basis of L2 (0, 1).

We represent by Vm = {w1 , w2 , ..., wm } the subspace of H01 (0, 1) generated by
the first m eigenfunctions wj orthonormal in L2 (0, 1). Note that this is equiv-
alent to say that −wj00 = λj wj , wj (0) = wj (1) = 0, for j = 1, 2, ..., i.e., they
are eigenfunctions of the Laplace operator with zero Dirichlet conditions on the
boundary.√In the one dimensional case we are working on, we obtain λj = (jπ)2
and wj = 2 sin jπx, j = 1, 2, ... .
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 471

We look for vm (t) ∈ Vm solution of the system of ordinary differential equa-

tions:


 (Ľvm (t), v) = (g(t), v) for all v ∈ Vm ,


(3.1) vm (0) = v0m ,



 0
vm (0) = v1m .
By v0m and v1m we denote the projections of v0 and v1 over Vm . Note that

v0m → v0 in H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1)

and
v1m → v1 in H01 (0, 1) ,

as m → ∞.

0 (t) in (3.1). We obtain:

Estimate I. Let us consider v = vm
µ ¶
1 d 0 1 1 d
(3.2) |v (t)|2 + M̌ kvm (t)k2 kvm (t)k2 +
2 dt m 2 γ2 γ dt
µ 0 ¶ µ ¶
0 ∂vm 0 ∂vm 0 0
+ a(t, vm , vm ) + b(y, t) , vm + c(y, t) , vm = (g, vm ).
∂y ∂y
If we set Z λ
c(λ) =
M M̌ (s) ds ,
0
we have
· µ ¶¸ µ ¶
d 1 c 1 γ0 1
(3.3) M kvm (t)k2 + 3
M̌ kvm (t)k2 kvm (t)k2 +
dt 2 γ γ 2γ γ
µ ¶ µ ¶
γ0 c 1 2 1 1 2 d
+ M kvm (t)k = M̌ kvm (t)k kvm (t)k2 ,
2 γ2 γ 2 γ2 γ dt

0 1 d 1
(3.4) a(t, vm , vm )= a(t, vm , vm ) − a0 (t, vm , vm ) ,
2 dt 2
where Z 1 ∂v ∂w
a0 (t, v, w) = a0 (y, t) dy .
0 ∂y ∂y
We also have:
µ ¶ ¯ Z
0
∂vm 1 ¯y=1 1 1 ∂b
b(y, t) 0
, vm 0
= b(y, t) vm (y, t)2 ¯¯ − 0
(vm (t))2 dy
∂y 2 y=0 2 0 ∂y
(3.5) Z 1
1 ∂b 0
=− (v (t))2 dy .
2 0 ∂y m
472 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Substituting (3.3), (3.4) and (3.5) in (3.2), we obtain:

· µ ¶¸
1 d 0 1 d 1 c 1 1 d
(3.6) |vm (t)|2 + M kvm (t)k2 + a(t, vm , vm ) +
2 dt 2 dt γ γ 2 dt
µ ¶ µ ¶
γ0 1 2 2 γ0 c 1 2
+ M̌ kv m (t)k kv m (t)k + M kv m (t)k =
2 γ3 γ 2 γ2 γ
Z 1 ∂b µ ¶
1 1 ∂vm 0
= a0 (t, vm , vm ) + 0
(vm (t))2 dy + c(y, t) 0
, vm + (g, vm ).
2 2 0 ∂y ∂y
From (3.6), we obtain:
· µ ¶¸
1 d 0 1 d 1 c 1 1 d
(3.7) |vm (t)|2 + M kvm (t)k2 + a(t, vm , vm ) +
2 dt 2 dt γ γ 2 dt
µ ¶ µ ¶
γ0 1 2 2 γ0 c 1 2
+ M̌ kv m (t)k kv m (t)k + M kv m (t)k ≤
2 γ3 γ 2 γ2 γ
1
≤ |g(t)|2 + C1 |vm
0
(t)|2 + C2 kvm (t)k2 .
2
b is increasing, and
We have, by hypothesis, γ 0 ≥ 0 since Q
µ ¶
(3.8) Mc 1 kvm k2 ≥ C kvm k2
γ
(3.9) a(t, vm , vm ) > 0 .
Integrating (3.7) on [0, t[ contained in the interval of existence of vm (t) solution
of (3.1), we obtain
Z t³ ´
(3.10) 0
|vm (t)|2 + kvm (t)k2 ≤ K0 + K1 0
|vm (s)|2 + kvm (s)k2 ds
0
where K0 , K1 are constants independent of m.
From (3.10) and Gronwall inequality, we obtain:
(3.11) 0
|vm (t)|2 + kvm (t)k2 < C on [0, T ] .

∂ 2 vm
0
Estimate II. In the approximate system (3.1) we take v = − . This
∂y 2
gives:
µ ¶ ¯ ¯
1 d 0 1 1 d ¯¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯¯2
(3.12) kvm (t)k2 + M̌ kv (t)k 2
+
dt ¯ ∂y 2 ¯
m
2 dt 2 γ2 γ
µ 0 ¶ µ 0 ¶ µ 0 ¶
∂ 2 vm ∂vm0 ∂ 2 vm ∂vm ∂ 2 vm
+ a t, vm , − + b(y, t) , − + c(y, t) , − =
∂y 2 ∂y ∂y 2 ∂y ∂y 2
µ ¶
∂ 2 vm
= g, − .
∂y 2
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 473

We have:
µ ¶ Z µ ¶
∂ 2 vm
0 1 d 1 ∂ 2 vm 2
a t, vm , − = a(y, t) dy
∂y 2 2 dt 0 ∂y 2
Z µ 2 ¶
1 1 0 ∂ vm 2
(3.13) − a (y, t) dy
2 0 ∂y 2
Z 1 ·
∂ ∂a ∂vm ∂vm
¸ 0 0 ¯¯y=1
∂a ∂vm ∂vm
− dy + ¯ .
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0

Note that:
µ ¶ Z
∂v 0 ∂ 2 vm
0 0 ∂ 2v0
∂vm 1
b(y, t) m , − =− m
b(y, t)
dy
∂y ∂y 2 0 ∂y ∂y 2
Z 1 µ 0 ¶2
1 ∂ ∂vm
= − b(y, t) dy .
0 2 ∂y ∂y

Integrating by parts we get:

µ ¶ Z 1 ∂b µ ∂v 0 ¶2 µ ¶2 ¯y=1
0
∂vm ∂ 2 vm
0 1 m 1 0
∂vm ¯
¯
(3.14) b(y, t) ,− = dy − b(y, t) ¯ .
∂y ∂y 2 2 0 ∂y ∂y 2 ∂y y=0

α0 + γ 0 y
Remark 3.1. Since b(y, t) = −2 ,
γ

0 µ ¶2 ¯y=1 µ 0 (1, t) ¶2 µ 0 (0, t) ¶2

1 ∂vm ¯
¯ β 0 ∂ vm α 0 ∂ vm
− b(y, t) ¯ = −
2 ∂y y=0 γ ∂y γ ∂y

which is non negative, by the hypothesis α0 ≤ 0, β 0 ≥ 0 on the non-decreasing

boundary. On the other hand,
µ ¶ Z · ¸
∂vm ∂ 2 vm
0 ∂ 1∂vm ∂vm 0
c(y, t) ,− = c(y, t) dy
∂y ∂y 2 0 ∂y ∂y ∂y
(3.15) 0 ¯¯y=1
∂vm ∂vm ¯
− c(y, t) .
∂y ∂y ¯y=0

Substituting (3.13), (3.14) and (3.15) in (3.12), we obtain:

µ ¶ ¯ ¯
1 d 0 1 1 d ¯¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯¯2
kvm (t)k2 + M̌ kv (t)k 2
+
dt ¯ ∂y 2 ¯
m
2 dt 2 γ2 γ
474 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Z µ ¶2 Z µ ¶2
1 d 1 ∂ 2 vm 1 1 ∂ 2 vm
+ a(y, t) dy − a0 (y, t) dy
2 dt 0 ∂y 2 2 0 ∂y 2
Z 1 · 0 ¸
0 ¯y=1 ¯
∂ ∂a ∂vm ∂vm ∂a ∂vm ∂vm ¯
− dy +
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0
(3.16) ¶2 ¯y=1
1
Z 1 ∂b µ ∂v 0 ¶2 1 0
∂vm
µ
¯
m ¯
+ dy − b(y, t) ¯
2 0 ∂y ∂y 2 ∂y y=0
Z 1 · ¸ 0 0 ¯y=1 ¯
∂ ∂vm ∂vm ∂vm ∂vm ¯
+ c(y, t) dy − c(y, t) =
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0
µ 0 ¶
∂g ∂vm
= , .
∂y ∂y
µ ¶
1 1
Remark 3.2. Denoting by µ(t) = M̌ kvk2 , we have:
γ2 γ
µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶
2 γ0 1 2 1 γ0 1
0
µ (t) = − 3 M̌ kvk2 + 3 M̌ 0 kvk2 ((v, v 0 )) − 4 M̌ 0 kvk2 kvk2
γ γ γ γ γ γ
and, by Estimate I and the fact that M ∈ C 1 ([0, ∞[, R) we obtain, by the hypo-
thesis (H1) on α, β:
|µ0 (t)| ≤ C + kvm
0
k.

From (3.16) and Remark 3.2, we have:

¯ ¯ µZ µ ¶ ¶
1 d 0 1 d ¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯¯2 1 d 1 ∂vm 2
kvm (t)k2 + µ(t) ¯¯ ¯ + a(y, t) dy +
2 dt 2 dt ∂y 2 2 dt 0 ∂y
µ 0 (1, t) ¶2 µ 0 (0, t) ¶2
β 0 ∂ vm (−α0 ) ∂ vm
+ + =
γ ∂y γ ∂y
(3.17) Z µ ¶2 Z · ¸
1 1 ∂ 2 vm 1 0
∂ ∂a ∂vm ∂vm
= a0 (y, t) dy + dy
2 0 ∂y 2 0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y
∂a 0 ¯¯y=1
∂vm ∂vm 1
Z 1 ∂b µ 0
∂vm
¶2
− ¯ − dy
∂y ∂y ¯
∂y y=0 2 ∂y ∂y
0
Z 1 · 0 ¸
0 ¯y=1 ¯ µ 0 ¶
∂ ∂vm ∂vm ∂vm ∂vm ¯ ∂g ∂vm
− c(y, t) dy + c(y, t) + , .
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0 ∂y ∂y

Remark 3.3. We have the identity:

Z · ¸ Z Z
∂vm 1 ∂ ∂vm 1 ∂ 2 vm 1 ∂v
m
(0, t) = (1−y) (y, t) dy = (1−y) dy − dy
∂y 0 ∂y ∂y 0 ∂y 2 0 ∂y
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 475

or ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ∂vm ¯ ¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯ ¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯
¯ (0, t) ¯ ≤ ¯¯ ¯ + kv k ≤ C + ¯ ¯ ,
¯ ∂y ¯ ∂y 2 ¯L2 (0,1)
m ¯ ∂y 2 ¯ 2
R L (0,1)

by the Estimate II.

∂vm
A similar estimate is true for (1, t).
∂y
Remark 3.4. We have:
µ ¶2
m0 α0 + γ 0 y ∂a α0 + γ 0 y γ 0
a(y, t) = − >0 and = −2 ,
2 γ2 γ ∂y γ γ
α00 + γ 00 y α0 + γ 0 y γ 0
c(y, t) = − − .
γ γ γ

Then, since α0 + γ 0 = β 0 , we obtain:

0 ¯y=1¯
∂a ∂vm ∂vm 2 β 0 γ 0 ∂vm ∂v 0 2 α0 γ 0 ∂vm 0
∂vm
− ¯
¯ = + 2 (1, t) m (1, t) − (0, t) (0, t) ,
∂y ∂y ∂y y=0 γ ∂y ∂y γ 2 ∂y ∂y
¯
0 ¯y=1 µ ¶
∂vm ∂vm ¯ β 0 γ 0 + γβ 00 ∂vm ∂vm0
c(y, t) ¯ = − (1, t) (1, t)
∂y ∂y y=0 γ2 ∂y ∂y
µ 0 0 ¶
α γ + α00 γ ∂vm ∂v 0
+ 2
(0, t) m (0, t) .
γ ∂y ∂y
Let us consider, for example,
¯ 0 0¯¯ ¯¯ 0 ¯ ¯ 0 0 ¯2 ¯ ¯2 ¯ 0 ¯2
¯ β γ ¯ ¯ ∂vm ¯ ¯ ∂vm ¯ ¯ β γ ¯ ¯ ∂vm ¯ 1 ¯¯ ∂vm ¯
¯ ¯¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ γ 2 ¯ ¯ ∂y (1, t)¯ ¯ ∂y (1, t)¯ ≤ λ ¯ γ 2 ¯ ¯ ∂y (1, t)¯ + 4 λ ¯ ∂y (1, t)¯ .

1 β0 1 β 0 ³ ∂vm0 ´2
If = , then (1, t) goes to the left side of (3.17) and it is compen-
λ γ 4 γ ∂y
β 0 ³ ∂v 0 ´2
sated with (1, t) which gives a positive contribution in the first member.
γ ∂y
¯ β 0 γ 0 ¯ ¯ ∂v ¯2
¯ ¯¯ m ¯
The term ¯ 2 ¯ ¯ (1, t)¯ can be estimated as in Remark 3.3. We get
γ ∂y
¯ 0 0 ¯2 ¯ ¯2 ¯ 2 ¯
¯β γ ¯ ¯ ∂vm ¯ ¯ ∂ vm ¯ 2
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
¯ γ2 ¯ ¯ ∂y (1, t)¯ ≤ C + ¯ ∂y ¯ ,

with a possibly different constant C.

The same argument is true for all the other terms above.
476 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Remark 3.5. From the hypothesis on α and β, we can estimate all the other
¯ ∂ 2 v ¯2
¯ m¯ 0 (t)k2 .
terms in the left side of (3.17) by C ¯ 2
¯ and Ckvm
∂y
Then by the Remarks above, we modify (3.17) obtaining:
¯ ¯ Z µ ¶2
d 0 2 d ¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯¯2 d 1 ∂ 2 vm
(3.18) kvm k + µ(t) ¯¯ + a(y, t) dy ≤
dt dt ∂y 2 ¯ dt 0 ∂y
¯ 2 ¯
¯ ∂ vm ¯ 2
0
≤ C0 + C1 kvm (t)k2 + ¯¯ ¯ .
∂y 2 ¯
· ¸
d ¯¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯¯2 d ¯ ∂2v ¯
¯ m¯
¯ 2 ¯2
0 (t)¯ ∂ vm ¯ and by
Substituting µ ¯ ¯ in (3.18) by µ(t) ¯ ¯ − µ ¯ ¯
dt ∂y 2 dt ∂y 2 ∂y 2
Remark 3.2, we obtain:
" ¯ ¯ Z µ ¶2 #
d ¯ ∂ 2 vm ¯ 2 1 ∂vm
(3.19) 0
kvm (t)k2 + µ(t) ¯¯ (t)¯¯ + a(y, t) dy ≤
dt ∂y 2 0 ∂y
¯ 2 ¯
¯ ∂ vm ¯ 2
0
≤ C0 + C1 kvm (t)k2 + kvm
0
(t)k ¯¯ ¯ in [0, T ] .
∂y 2 ¯
If ¯ 2 ¯2 Z µ ¶2
¯ ∂ vm ¯ 1 ∂vm
0
hm (t) = kvm (t)k2 + µ(t) ¯¯ (t)¯¯ + a(y, t) dy ,
∂y 2 0 ∂y
we have from (3.19):
dhm
≤ C0 + C1 hm + h3/2
m in [0, T ] .
dt
From this inequality, we get a number 0 < T0 < T , such that hm (t) is bounded
in [0, T0 ] independently of m. This gives the second estimate
¯ 2 ¯
¯ ∂ vm ¯ 2
(3.20) 0
kvm (t)k2 + ¯¯ ¯ <C on [0, T0 ] .
∂y 2 ¯
Note that µ(t) is strictly positive on [0, T ].

00 (t) in the approximate system (3.1) we obtain

Estimate III. Taking v = vm
µ ¶ Z · ¸
∂ 2 vm 00 ∂ 1 ∂vm 00
00
|vm (t)|2 − µ(t) ,v − a(y, t) vm dy +
∂y 2 m 0 ∂y ∂y
Z 1 Z 1
∂v 0 ∂vm 00
+ b(y, t) m v 00 dy + c(y, t) 00
v dy = (g, vm ).
0 ∂y 0 ∂y m
From the first and second estimates and the hypothesis on α, β, we get:

(3.21) 00
|vm (t)|2 < C on [0, T0 ] .
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 477

4 – Proof of the theorems

Proof of Theorem 2.2: In this step we prove that the estimates obtained
above are sufficient to take limits in the approximate equation (3.1). In view of
(3.11), (3.20) and (3.21) a subsequence represented by (vk ) can be extracted from
(vm ) such that:
(4.1) vk * v weak star in L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1)) ,
(4.2) vk0 * v 0 weak star in L∞ (0, T0 ; H01 (Ω)) .
By the classical compactness argument of Aubin–Lions, cf. Lions [13], it fol-
lows that:
(4.3) vk → v strongly L2 (0, T0 ; H01 (0, 1)) .
Because of the estimate (3.21) the subsequence satisfies also:
(4.4) vk00 * v 00 weak star in L∞ (0, T0 ; L2 (Ω)) .
From hypothesis (H1), (H2) and the estimates (3.11) and (3.20), we obtain:
¯ µ ¶2 2 ¯
¯1 1 2 ∂ v ¯¯
(4.5) ¯
¯ γ 2 M̌ γ kvm (t)k ∂y 2 ¯
<C on [0, T0 [ .

Then, the sequence (vk ) is such that

µ ¶2
1 1 ∂ 2 vk
(4.6) 2
M̌ kvk (t)k2 * χ
γ γ ∂y 2
weak star in L∞ (0, T0 ; L2 (Ω)).
µ ¶
1 1 ∂2v
Lemma 4.1. χ = M̌ kv(t)k2 where v is the limit in (4.1).
γ γ ∂y 2
1 ³1 2
´
Proof of Lemma 4.1: Let us introduce the notations µk (t) = M̌ kv k (t)k
γ2 γ
1 ³1 ´
and µ(t) = M̌ kv(t)k 2 . Because of (4.6), for every w ∈ L2 (0, T ; L2 (0, 1)),
0
γ2 γ
we have:
Z T0µ ∂2v
¶ Z T0µ ∂ 2 vk
¶
χ − µ(t) 2 , w dt = χ − µk (t) , w dt
0 ∂y 0 ∂y 2
Z T0 µ 2 ¶
∂ vk ∂2v
(4.7) + µ(t) − , w dt
0 ∂y 2 ∂y 2
Z T0h i µ ∂2v ¶
k
+ µk (t) − µ(t) , w dt .
0 ∂y 2
478 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

By (4.6) the first right side integral of (4.7) goes to zero when k → ∞ and the
second one, by (3.20), also goes to zero. To analyse the third member of the right
side of (4.7) we employ hypothesis (H2) on M (λ). Then, we have:
¯ ¯ ³ ´
¯ ¯
|µk (t) − µ(t)| ≤ c ¯ kvk (t)k2 − kv(t)k2 ¯ ≤ c kvk (t) − v(t)k kvk (t)k + kv(t)k .

It follows from (4.3), estimates (3.11), (3.20) and Lebesgue convergence the-
orem, that the last term of (4.7) goes to zero when k → ∞.

Integrating by parts we obtain that a(t, vk , w) * a(t, v, w) weakly in

L2 (0, T ; H 1 (0, 1))
and
µ ¶ µ ¶
∂ ∂vk ∂ ∂v
(4.8) a(y, t) * a(y, t) weakly in L2 (0, T ; L2 (0, 1)) .
∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y
We also have, by the same argument,
∂vk0 ∂v 0
(4.9) b(y, t) * b(y, t) weakly in L2 (0, T ; L2 (0, 1)) ,
∂y ∂y
∂vk ∂v
(4.10) c(y, t) * c(y, t) weakly in L2 (0, T ; L2 (0, 1)) .
∂y ∂y
Because of (4.4), (4.6), Lemma 1, (4.8), (4.9) and (4.10) we take m = k in the
approximate equation (3.11) and we let k go to +∞ obtaining:

(Ľv, w) = (g, w) for all w ∈ L2 (0, T0 ; L2 (0, 1))

or, equivalently,

(4.11) Ľv = g in L2 (0, T0 ; L2 (0, 1)) .

From (4.1), (4.2) and (4.4), we obtain

(4.12) v(0) = v0 , v 0 (0) = v1 on Ω .

Uniqueness
If v and v̂ are two solutions in the conditions of Theorem 2.2, then w = v − v̂
satisfies:
µ 2 ¶ 2µ ¶ µ ¶
1 1 2 ∂ v 1 1 2 ∂ v̂ ∂ ∂w
(4.13) w 00 − 2
M̌ kvk 2
+ 2
M̌ kv̂k 2
− a(y, t) +
γ γ ∂y γ γ ∂y ∂y ∂y
∂w0 ∂w
+ b(y, t) + c(y, t) = 0 in L2 (0, T ; L2 (0, 1)) ,
∂y ∂y
w(0) = w 0 (0) = 0 in Ω and w = 0 on ]0, 1[ × ]0, T0 [ .
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 479

Multiplying (4.13) by w 0 and integrating we obtain:

µ ¶
1 d 0 2 1 1 d
(4.14) |w (t)| + 2
M̌ kv(t)k2 kw(t)k2 +
2 dt 2γ γ dt
Z µ ¶ Z 1 Z 1
1 d 1 ∂w 2 ∂w0 0 ∂w 0
+ a(y, t) dy + b(y, t) w dy + c(y, t) w dy =
2 dt 0 ∂y 0 ∂y 0 ∂y
" µ ¶ µ ¶¸ à ¶
1 1 1 1 ∂ 2 v̂ 0
= M̌ kvk2 − 2 M̌ kv̂k2 ,w .
γ2 γ γ γ ∂y 2

We have:
µ ¶ µ µ ¶ ¶
1 1 d 1 d 1 1
2
M̌ kvk2 kwk2 = 2
M̌ kvk2 kwk2
2γ γ dt 2 dt γ γ
µ ¶
γ0 1
(4.15) + 3 M̌ kvk2
γ γ
µ ¶ µ ¶
1 1 d 1
− 2 M̌ 0 kvk2 kvk2 kwk2
2γ γ dt γ
Z Z
1 ∂w0 0 1 1 ∂b
(4.16) b(y, t) w dy = − (w0 )2 dy .
0 ∂y 2 0 ∂y

Substituting (4.4) and (4.5) in (4.3) we obtain:

à µ ¶ Z µ ¶2 !
d 1 1 1 ∂w
(4.17) |w0 (t)|2 + 2 M̌ kvk2 kwk2 + a(y, t) dy ≤
dt γ γ 0 ∂y
³ ´
≤ c |w0 (t)|2 + kw(t)k2 .

Integrating (4.17) over 0 ≤ t < T0 , we have:

Z t³ ´
2 2
0
|w (t)| + kw(t)k ≤ C0 |w0 (s)|2 + kw(s)k2 ds .
0

This implies w = 0 by Gronwall’s inequality.

Proof of Theorem 2.1: If v is the solution of Theorem 2.2 we consider the

function

(4.18) u(x, t) = v(y, t) , x=α+γy .

We also set

(4.19) g(y, t) = f (α + γy, t) ,

480 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

³ ´
(4.20) v0 (y) = u(x, 0) = u0 α(0) + γ(0) y ,
³ ´
v1 (y) = u0 (x, 0) = u1 α(0) + γ(0) y
(4.21) ³ ´ ³ ´
+ α0 (0) + γ 0 (0) y u00 α(0) + γ(0) y .

The function u(x, t) defined by (4.18) is the solution of Theorem 2.1. To see
this it is sufficient to observe that the application
µ ¶
x−α
(x, t) → ,t
γ

b into ]0, 1[ × ]0, T0 [ is of class C 2 and we have:

from Q

∂2u 1 ∂2v
(4.22) (x, t) = (y, t) ,
∂x2 γ 2 ∂y

µ ¶
00 00 ∂ ∂v ∂v 0 ∂v
(4.23) u (x, t) = v (y, t)− a(y, t) +b(y, t) (y, t)+c(y, t) (y, t) ,
∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y

x−α
with y = ,
γ
Z β(t) µ ∂u ¶2 1
Z 1µ
∂v
¶2
(4.24) dx = dy .
α(t) ∂x γ 0 ∂y

From (4.22)–(4.24) we obtain:

µZ β(t) µ ∂u ¶2 ¶
00 ∂2u
(4.25) u (x, t) − M dx = Ľ v(y, t) ,
α(t) ∂x ∂x2

x−α
with y = . Then u solves (1.1), with initial conditions u0 and u1 .
γ
The regularity of v given by Theorem 2.2, implies the regularity of u claimed
in Theorem 2.1.
To prove the uniqueness observe that from (4.22)–(4.25) we have the equiv-
alence between the mixed problems (1.1) and (2.1). Then, if u and û are two
solutions of (1.1) given by Theorem 2.1, then v and v̂ obtained by (4.18) are
solutions in the conditions of Theorem 2.2. Since we have uniqueness for v, i.e.,
v = v̂ it implies u = û.
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 481

5 – Applications

We will give examples of functions α(t) and β(t) in C 1 ([0, ∞[ , R), such that
α(t) < β(t), α0 (t) ≤ 0 and β 0 (t) ≥ 0. If γ(t) = β(t) − α(t), we have γ 0 (t) ≥ 0 and,
by hypothesis, (H1), Remark 2.2, we must have:
¯ ¯ µ ¶
¯ 0 0 ¯ m0 1/2
¯α (t) + γ (t) y ¯ ≤ ,
2
for all 0 ≤ t ≤ T and 0 ≤ y ≤ 1.
Let us consider the family of straight lines:
x = α0 (t) + γ 0 (t) y
depending of the parameter t ≥ 0.

We rewrite (H1) as:

µ ¶1/2 µ ¶1/2
m0 m0
−α0 (t) ≤ and β 0 (t) ≤
2 2

Case 1. Let us consider in the (x, t) plane the lines:

µ ¶1/2
m0
α(t) = α0 − α1 t with 0 ≤ α1 ≤ ,
2
µ ¶1/2
m0
β(t) = β0 + β1 t with 0 ≤ β1 ≤ ,
2
with α0 < β0 positive constants.
The noncylindrical domains are cones with basis the intervals [α0 , β0 ].

Case 2. Let us consider the curves

α0 +β0 1
α(t) = − (t + t0 ) 2k ,
2
α0 +β0 1
β(t) = + (t + t0 ) 2k , k = 1, 2, ... .
2
By the conditions of Lemma 1, we can choose
k

t0 = (2k)
2k
1−2k
( m20 ) 1−2k .

These curves could be written as:

(x − x0 )2k = t + t0 ,
α0 +β0
t ≥ 0, with x0 = .
2
482 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

6 – Global solutions

In this section we prove that if we add some damping to the noncylindrical

Kirchhoff–Carrier model, with certain restrictions on the initial data, we obtain
a global solution in time. Note, however, that we also impose certain restrictions
on the boundary of the noncylindrical domain.
In fact, with the notation and hypothesis fixed in Section 2, we consider now,
for the sake of simplicity, the domains of the form

α(t) = −β(t) for all t ≥ 0 .

Then
γ(t) = 2β(t) for all t ≥ 0
and by Remark 2.2, we must have:
µ ¶1/2
0 m0
(6.1) 0 < β (t) < C .
2
with µ ¶1/2 µ ¶
1 2 π
C= .
6 5 π+1
We suppose, in the present section, that

(6.2) M (λ) = m0 + m1 λ , m0 , m1 > 0, λ ≥ 0 .

This is a particular case in which (H2) holds.

The mapping from Q b into the cylinder Q is given by:

x+β
(6.3) y= or x = (2 y − 1) β ,
2β
with 0 ≤ y ≤ 1.
We consider the perturbated system (6.4). The modified Kirchhoff–Carrier
model with damping is, for δ > 0 fixed, of the type:
 µZ β(t) µ ¶ ¶ 2 µ 0 ¶

 00 ∂u 2 ∂ u β ∂u 0 b ,

 u −M dx +δ x +u = 0 in Q

 −β(t) ∂x ∂x2 β ∂x

(6.4) b ,

 u = 0 on Σ




 u(x, 0) = u (x), u0 (x, 0) = u (x) on − β0 < x < β0 ,
0 1

where β0 = β(0).
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 483

In addition to (H1), (H2) we assume that

(β 0 (t))2
(H3) For all t ≥ 0, |β 00 (t)| ≤ .
β(t)
If we consider the mapping (6.3) from Qb into Q, the mixed problem (6.4) in
b has the following form in Q:
the noncylindrical domain Q
 µ ¶ 2 µ ¶

 00 1 1 2 ∂ v ∂ ∂v

 v − M̌ kvk − a(y, t) +

 4 β2 2β ∂y 2 ∂y ∂v



 ∂v 0 ∂v

 0
+ b(y, t) + c(y, t) +δv = 0 in Q ,
(6.5) ∂y ∂y





 v=0 on Σ ,






v(y, 0) = v0 (y), v 0 (y, 0) = v1 (y) , 0<y<1.

Note that v(y, t) = u((2y−1)β, t) and Q = (0, 1) × (0, T ).

The coefficients of the operator Ľv(y, t) in (6.5) are given by:
· ¸
1 m0 ³ 0 ´2
• a(y, t) = − β (1 − 2 y) ,
4 β2 2
1h 0 i
• b(y, t) = β (1 − 2 y) ,
β
1 h 00 i
• c(y, t) = β (1 − 2 y) .
2β

We have:
· ¸
1 β0 m0 ³ 0 ´2
− a0 (y, t) = 3
β 00 β (1 − 2 y)2 + − β (1 − 2 y) .
2 4β 2

Then, by (4.20), we obtain:

¯ ¯ m0
¯ 00 ¯
¯β β (1 − 2 y)2 ¯ ≤ |β 00 β| ≤ (β 0 )2 <
8
and ¯³ ´2 ¯
¯ 0 ¯ m0
¯ β (1 − 2 y) ¯ ≤ (β 0 )2 < .
8
We have, consequently

1 m0 β 0
(6.6) − a0 (y, t) ≥ .
2 16 β 3
484 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Note that
β 0 ∂u
v0 = x + u0
β ∂x
which gives in (6.5) the damping δv 0 .
Now we determine the condition on the initial data v0 , v1 which implies the
global existence of solution for the mixed problem (6.5).
Let us fix the number δ such that
µ ¶1/2 µ ¶
δ 5 m0 4 + π2
(6.7) > .
2 2 β0 2 π2

Let us define the function H(t) by:

δ δ2
H(t) = kv 0 (t)k2 + (∇v 0 (t), ∇v(t)) + kv(t)k2
(6.8) 4 8
µ ¶ Z 1
1 1 2 2
+ M̌ kv(t)k |∆v(t)| + a(y, t) (∆v)2 dy ,
8 β2 2β 0

∂2v ∂v
where ∆v = 2
, ∇v = and v is a solution of the approximate problem for
∂y ∂y
(6.5).

Lemma 6.1. We have H(t) > 0, for all t ≥ 0.

Proof: In fact,
¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ 2
¯δ ¯
¯ (∇v, ∇v 0 )¯ ≤ δ ¯¯(∇v, ∇v 0 )¯¯ ≤ δ kvk2 + |v 0 |2 .
¯4 ¯ 4 32
m0 m0
We know that M̌ (λ) = + m1 λ ≥ , then
2 2
1 m0
2
M̌ (λ) ≥
8β 16 β 2

and a(y, t) ≥ 0. It implies:

1 0 2 3 δ2 m0
H(t) ≥ kv k + kvk2 + |∆v|2 .
2 32 16 β 2

We represent by C1 the constant:

µ ¶
1 1 c 1
(6.9) C1 = |v1 |2 + M kv0 k2 + a(0, v0 , v0 ) .
2 4 β0 2 β0
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 485

Theorem 6.1. Suppose (H1) and (H3) are true and α(t) = −β(t). Suppose
also that M = M (λ) is of the form (6.2). Then given

v0 ∈ H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1) , v1 ∈ H01 (0, 1)

and δ > 0 satisfying (6.7), if v0 , v1 are such that

q √ µ ¶ µ ¶
2 m 0 m0 5 m0 1/2 4+π 2
(6.10) C1 H(0) <
16 m1 2 β0 2 π2
with C1 and H(0) as in (6.9) and (6.8), then the mixed problem (6.5) has a unique
weak solution v(y, t), defined for all t ≥ 0, y ∈ (0, 1).

Remark 6.1. Before going into the proof of Theorem 6.1, we analyse the
restriction (6.10) on the initial data u0 , u1 of (6.4).
We have
³ ´
(i) v0 (y) = u0 (2 y − 1) β0 , with β0 = β(0) ,
³ ´ d ³ ´
(ii) v1 (y) = u1 (2 y − 1) β0 + (2 y − 1) β 0 (0) u0 (2 y − 1) β0 .
dx
Let us represent (−β0 , β0 ) by Ω0 . Then we have:
(iii) kv0 k2 = 2 β0 ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) ,
m0 m0
(iv) a(t, v0 , v0 ) ≤ 2 kv0 k2 = ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) ,
8 β0 4 β0
(v) |4 v0 |2 = 8 β02 |4 u0 |2L2 (Ω0 ) ,
1 (β 0 (0))2
(vi) |v1 |2 ≤ |u1 |2L2 (Ω0 ) + ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) ,
β0 β0 0

(vii) kv1 k2 ≤ 4 β0 ku1 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) + 8 β0 β 02 (0) |∆u0 |2L2 (Ω0 ) + 8 β0 ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) ,
Z 1
0 0

2
(viii) a(y, 0, (∆v0 ) ) dy ≤ β0 m0 |∆u0 |2L2 (Ω0 ) .
0

Because of (iii)–(viii) and Remark 2.2, we obtain:

1 m0 1 c³ ´
(ix) C1 ≤ Č0 = |u1 |2L2 (Ω0 ) + kuk2H 1 (Ω0 ) + M ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 )
2 β0 2 β0 0 4 β0 0

and
(x) H(0) ≤ G0 = 12 β0 ku1 k2H 1 (Ω0 ) + 13 β0 m0 |∆u0 |2L2 (Ω0 )
µ 0
¶
582
+ 24 β0 + β0 ku0 k2H 1 (Ω0 )
³ 16 ´ 0

+ β0 M̌ ku0 kH 1 (Ω0 ) |∆u0 |2L2 (Ω0 ) .

2
0
486 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Therefore, if we take

u0 ∈ H01 (Ω0 ) ∩ H 2 (Ω0 ) and u1 ∈ H01 (Ω0 )

and fix δ satisfying (6.4), and u0 and u1 are restricted to

q √
2 m 0 m0
Č0 G0 < δ,
32 m1
then the mixed problem (6.5) has a unique solution u defined for all t > 0 and
x ∈ Ωt .

Proof of Theorem 6.1: We will employ the Faedo–Galerkin method choos-

ing a Hilbertian basis in H01 (0, 1) ∩ H 2 (0, 1) (cf. Brezis [3]). We do only the a
priori estimates that imply the convergence of approximate solutions as we have
done in Section 3, employing classical compactness arguments as in Lions [13].
In fact, we use the basis of eigenvectors of the spectral problem

((v, w)) = λ(v, w) for all w ∈ H01 (0, 1) .

Note that this basis can be obtained explicitly as in Section 3. Let us obtain the
a priori estimates.

Estimate I. Multiply both sides of (6.4)1 by v 0 and integrate on (0, 1).

We obtain:
µ µ ¶¶
1 d 0 2 d 1 c 1
(6.11) |v (t)| + M kv(t)k2 +
2 dt dt 4 β 2β
µ ¶ µ ¶
β0 1 2 2 β0 c 1
+ M̌ kv(t)k kv(t)k + M kv(t)k2
8 β2 2β 4 β2 2β
Z 1 ∂b
1 d 1 1
+ a(t, v, v) − a0 (t, v, v) − (v 0 (t))2 dy
2 dt 2 2 0 ∂y
Z 1 ∂v 0
+ c v dy + δ |v 0 |2 = 0
0 ∂y
with Z 1 ∂b
− (v 0 )2 dy > 0 .
0 ∂y
By (6.6) we obtain:
Z µ ¶2
1 11 ∂v m0 β 0
(6.12) − a0 (t, v, v) = − 0
a (y, t) dy ≥ kvk2 .
2 0 2 ∂y 16 β 3
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 487

(β 0 )2
Because of (H3), i.e., |β 00 | < , we obtain:
β
¯Z 1 ¯ Z 1 ¯ 00 ¯
¯ ¯ ¯ β (1−2y) ∂v 0 ¯
¯ c(y, t) ∂v v 0 dy ¯ ≤ ¯ v ¯ dy
¯ ∂y ¯ ¯ 2β ∂y ¯
0 0
Z ¯ ¯
1 (β 0 )2 ¯ ∂v ¯
¯ ¯ · |v 0 | dy
≤ ¯ ∂y ¯
0 2 β2
Z ¯ ¯2 Z
1 µ(β 0 )4 ¯ ∂v ¯
¯ ¯ dy +
1 1 02
≤ ¯ ∂y ¯ |v | dy .
0 4 β4 0 4µ

µ(β 0 )4 m0 β 0 1 (β 0 )3
If we consider µ such that = , we obtain = . Then:
4 β4 16 β 3 4µ m0 β
¯Z 1 ¯ µ ¶
¯ ¯ 0
¯ c(y, t) ∂v v 0 dy ¯ ≤ m0 β kvk2 + 1 m0 1/2 0 2
¯ ¯ |v | .
0 ∂y 16 β 3 16 β0 2
Whence,
Z √
1 ∂v 0 m0 β 0 2 m0
(6.13) c(y, 1) v dy ≥ − 3
kvk − √ |v 0 |2 .
0 ∂y 16 β 16 2 β0
From (6.12) and (6.13), we have:
Z 1
1 0 ∂v 0
(6.14) − a (t, v, v) + c(y, t) v dy + δ |v 0 |2 ≥
2 0 ∂y µ µ ¶ ¶
1 m0 1/2
≥ δ− |v 0 |2 .
16 β0 2
By (6.14) we modify (6.11), obtaining:
µ µ ¶¶
1 d 0 2 d 1 c 1
(6.15) |v (t)| + M kv(t)k2 +
2 dt dt 4 β 2β
µ µ ¶ ¶
1 d 1 m0 1/2
+ a(t, v, v) + δ − |v 0 |2 ≤ 0 .
2 dt 8 β0 2
The parameter δ was fixed satisfying the condition (6.7), what implies:
µ ¶1/2
δ 1 m0
> .
2 8 β0 2
Then, from (6.15) we get:
· µ ¶¸
1 d 0 2 d 1 c 1 1 d δ
|v (t)| + M kv(t)k2 + a(t, v, v) + |v 0 (t)|2 ≤ 0 .
2 dt dt 4 β 2β 2 dt 2
488 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Integrating from 0 to t, we get:

µ ¶ Z
1 0 2 1 c 1 1 δ t 0
|v (t)| + M kv(t)k2 + a(t, v, v) + |v (s)|2 ds ≤
2 4β 2β 2 2 0
µ ¶
1 2 1 c 1 2 1
≤ |v1 | + M kv0 k + a(0, v0 , v0 )
2 4 β0 2β0 2

for all t ≥ 0.
If we set
µ ¶
1 1 c 1
C1 = |v1 |2 + M kv0 k2 + a(0, v0 , v0 )
2 4 β0 2 β0

we obtain the first estimate

1 0 2 m0
(6.16) |v (t)| + kv(t)k2 < C1
2 16 β 2

for all t > 0. Note that C1 does not depend on t, but depends on v0 , v1 , β0 ,
a(y, 0).

∂ 2v0
Estimate II. We multiply both sides of the equation (6.5)1 by −∆v 0 = −
∂y 2
and integrate on (0, 1).
We obtain:
µ ¶
1 d 0 1 1 d
(6.17) kv (t)k2 + 2
M̌ kv(t)k2 |∆v(t)|2 +
2 dt 8β 2β dt
Z 1 Z 1
1 d 1 2
+ a(y, t) (∆v) dy − a0 (y, t) (∆v)2 dy
2 dt 0 2 0
Z µ ¶2 µ ¶¯
1 1 ∂b ∂v 0 1 ∂v 0 ¯¯y=1
+ dy − b(y, t)
2 0 ∂y ∂y 2 ∂y ¯y=0
Z µ ¶ ¯
1 ∂ ∂a ∂v ∂v 0 ∂a ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯y=1
− dy +
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0
Z · ¸ ¯
1 ∂ ∂v ∂v 0 ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯y=1
+ c(y, t) dy − c(y, t) + δ kv 0 (t)k2 = 0 .
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0

The inequalities below for the various terms of this identity are true. In fact,
we have:
Z
1 1 m0 β 0
(6.18) − a0 (y, t) (∆v)2 dy ≥ |∆v|2 ,
2 0 32 β 3
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 489

¯Z · ¸ ¯ µ ¶1/2 µ ¶
¯ 1 ∂ ∂a ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯ m0 β 0 2 m0 4 + π2
(6.19) ¯
¯ dy ≤ |∆v|2 + kv 0 k2 ,
0 ∂y ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯ 64 β 3 β0 2 π2

¯ Z 1 ∂b µ ∂v 0 ¶2
¯ µ ¶
¯1
¯
¯
¯ 1 m0 1/2 0 2
(6.20) ¯2 dy ¯ ≤ kv k ,
0 ∂y ∂y 2 β0 2

¯Z 1 · ¸ ¯ µ ¶ µ ¶
¯ ∂ ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯ m0 β 0 2 1 m0 1/2 4+π 2
(6.21) ¯
¯ ∂y c(y, t) ∂y ∂y dy ¯ ≤ 64 β 2 |∆v| + 2β kv 0 k2 ,
0 0 2 π2

µ ¶2 ¯y=1 µ ¶ µ ¶
∂v 0 ¯
¯ β 0 ∂ v 0 (1, t) 2 β 0 ∂ v 0 (0, t) 2
(6.22) −b(y, t) ¯ = + ,
∂y y=0 2β ∂y 2β ∂y

¯ ¯
¯ ∂a ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯y=1 ¯ µ
β 0 ∂v 0
¶2 µ
β 0 ∂v 0
¶2
¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ≤ (1, t) + (0, t)
¯ ∂y ∂y ∂y ¯y=0 ¯ 8 β ∂y 8 β ∂y
(6.23) µ 0 ¶3 µ ¶2
β π+1
+4 |∆v|2 ,
β π

¯ ¯ ¯ µ ¶2 µ ¶2
¯ ∂v ∂v 0 ¯¯1 ¯¯ β 0 ∂v β 0 ∂v 0
¯
¯ c(y, t) ¯ ≤ (1, t) + (0, t)
¯ ∂y ∂y ¯0 ¯ 8 β ∂y 8 β ∂y
(6.24) µ 0 ¶3 µ ¶2
β π+1
+ |∆v|2 .
β π
Using (6.18)–(6.24) the following inequality can be obtained from (6.17):
µ ¶
1 d 0 1 1 d
(6.25) kv (t)k2 + M̌ kv(t)k2 |∆v(t)|2 +
2 dt 8 β2 2β dt
Z µ ¶3 µ ¶2
1 d 1
2 β0 π+1 m0 β 0
+ a(y, t) (∆v) dy − |∆v|2 + |∆v|2
2 dt 0 β π 32 β 2
µ ¶2 µ ¶2
β0
∂v 0 β 0 ∂v 0
+ (1, t) + (0, t)
4 β ∂y 4 β ∂y
· µ ¶1/2 µ ¶¸
5 m0 4+π 2
+ δ− kv 0 (t)k2 ≤ 0 .
2 β0 2 π2

The coefficient of |∆v|2 is assumed to be positive, i.e.,

µ ¶2
m0 β 0 β 03 π+1
− >0.
32 β 3 β3 π
490 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

From the condition (6.7) on δ, it follows from (6.25):

µ ¶
1 d 0 1 1 d
(6.26) kv (t)k2 + 2
M̌ kv(t)k2 |∆v(t)|2 +
2 dt 8β 2β dt
Z
1 d 1 δ
+ a(y, t) (∆v(t))2 dy + kv 0 (t)k2 ≤ 0 .
2 dt 0 2

Estimate III. Multiply both sides of (6.7)1 by w = −∆v and integrate on

(0, 1). We have:
µ ¶
1 1
00
−(v , ∆v) + 2
M̌ kvk2 |∆v|2 − a(t, v, ∆v) −
4β 2β
µ ¶ µ ¶
∂v 0 ∂v
− δ(v 0 , ∆v) + b , −∆v + c , −∆v = 0 .
∂y ∂y

Whence,
µ ¶
d 1 1
(6.27) (∇v 0 , ∇v) − kv 0 k2 + M̌ kvk2 |∆v|2 −
dt 4 β2 2β
µ ¶ µ ¶
δ d 2 ∂v 0 ∂v
− a(t, v, ∆v) − kvk + b , −∆v + c , −∆v = 0 .
2 dt ∂y ∂y

We obtain the inequalities:

µ ¶
m0 3 1
(6.28) a(t, v, −∆v) ≥ − |∆v|2 ,
8 β2 4 π
¯µ 0 ¶¯
¯ ¯
(6.29) ¯ b(y, 1) ∂v , −∆v ¯ ≤ m0 |∆v|2 + kv 0 k2 ,
¯ ∂y ¯ 32 β 2
¯µ ¶¯
¯ ¯
(6.30) ¯ c(y, t) ∂v , −∆v ¯ ≤ m0 |∆v|2 .
¯ ∂y ¯ 16 πβ 2

By (6.28), (6.29), (6.30), we modify (6.27) obtaining:

d δ d m0
(6.31) (∇v 0 , ∇v) + kvk2 + |∆v|2 − 2 kv 0 k2 ≤ 0 ,
dt 2 dt 8 β2

m0
since M̌ (λ) > > 0 and the coefficient of |∆v|2 is also positive. Note that δ is
2
δ
a fixed parameter. Multiply (6.31) by and adding to (6.26) we cancel −2 kv 0 k2 ,
4
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 491

obtaining:
" µ ¶
1 d δ δ2 0 2 1 1
(6.32) kv 0 k2 + (∇v 0 , ∇v) + kv k + 2
M̌ kvk2 ) |∆v|2 +
2 dt 4 8 8β 2β
Z #
1 1 m0 δ
2
+ a(y, t) (∆v) dy + |∆v|2 ≤
2 0 32 β 2
· µ ¶¸0
1 1
≤ 2
M̌ kv(t)k2 |∆v|2 .
8β 2β
m0
Note that M̌ (λ) = + m1 λ with m0 , m1 > 0. Then M̌ 0 (λ) = m1 is constant.
2
We obtain:
· µ ¶¸0 µ ¶
1 1 β0 1 m1
M̌ kv(t)k2 = − 2 M̌ kvk2 + (∇v, ∇v 0 )
8 β2 2β 4β 2β 8 β3
β0
− kvk2 , with − β 0 = α0 < 0 ,
16 β 4
or
· µ ¶¸0
1 1 m1 kvk 0
(6.33) 2
M̌ kvk2 ≤ kv k .
8β 2β 8 β2 β

From Estimate I, we have:

µ ¶1/2
kvk C1
(6.34) ≤4
β2 m0

with µ ¶
1 1 c 1
C1 = |v1 |2 + M kv0 k2 a(0, v0 , v0 ) .
2 4 β0 2 β0
Then, from (6.31) and (6.32) it follows:
· µ ¶¸0 µ ¶1/2
1 1 m 1 C1
(6.35) 2
M̌ kvk2 2
|∆v| ≤ kv 0 k |∆v|2 .
8β 2β 2 β m0

Then, from (6.31) and (6.34), we have:

" µ ¶
1 d δ δ2 0 2 1 1
(6.36) kv 0 k2 + (∇v 0 , ∇v) + kv k + 2
M̌ kvk2 |∆v|2 +
2 dt 2 8 8β 2β
Z # µ µ ¶1/2 ¶
1
2 m0 m 1 C1 |∆v|2
+ a(y, t) (∆v) dy + δ− kv 0 k ≤ 0.
0 32 2 m0 β2
492 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

With the notations of Theorem 6.1, we obtain from (6.35):

µ ¶
1 0 m0 |∆v|2
(6.37) H (t) ≤ − δ + γ(t)
2 32 β2

where µ ¶1/2
C1 m1 0
γ(t) = kv (t)k
m0 2
p
and kv 0 (t)k < H(t).
m0 δ
Suppose that γ(t) ≥ and let us see that this leads us to a contradiction.
32
In fact, we have:
1 m1 q
γ(t) < √ C1 H(t) ,
m0 2
then
1 m1 q
(6.38) γ(0) ≤ √ C1 H(0) .
m0 2

By assumption (6.10) of Theorem 6.1 about v0 , v1 , we obtain, from (6.37):

m0 δ
γ(0) < .
32
n mδo
Let us consider t∗ = min t > 0, γ(t) = . This minimum exists and it is
32
greater than zero, by continuity of γ(t). We have:
 m0

 on 0 ≤ t < t∗ ,
 γ(t) < 32 δ
(6.39)

 m
 γ(t∗ ) = 0 δ .
32
We obtain:
Z t∗
∗
(6.40) H(t ) − H(0) = H 0 (s) ds .
0

By (6.34) we have H 0 (s) < 0 on (0, t∗ ), then H(t∗ ) < H(0) or H(t∗ )1/2 < H(0)1/2 .
Consequently,
µ ¶ µ ¶
∗ 1 m1 q ∗
1 m1 q m0
γ(t ) < √ C1 H(t ) < √ C1 H(0) < δ
m0 2 m0 2 32

which is in contradiction with (6.39)2 .

 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 493

Then, from (6.37) we have H 0 (t) ≤ 0 for all t ≥ 0 and, therefore, the global
estimate

(6.41) kv 0 (t)k2 + |∆v(t)|2 < c, for all t ≥ 0 .

The estimate for v 00 (t) and the uniqueness can be proved as in the local case.

7 – Asymptotic behaviour

In this section we investigate the behaviour, when t goes to infinity, of a

perturbed energy associated to the global solution v obtained in Theorem 6.1.
In fact we consider
µ ¶
1 1 c 1 1
(7.1) E(v, t) = |v 0 (t)|2 + M kv(t)k2 + a(t, v(t), v(t)) ,
2 4β 2β 2

which we still call the energy associated to the solution v of the mixed problem
(6.5).
m0 c(λ) = m0 λ + m1 λ2 and (7.1)
Remember that M̌ (λ) = + m1 λ, then M
2 2 2
takes the form
1 0 2 m0 m1 1
(7.2) E(v, t) = |v (t)| + kv(t)k2 + kv(t)k4 + a(t, v(t), v(t)) .
2 16 β 2 32 β 3 2

Observe that E(v, t) depends on the boundary β = β(t) of the noncylindrical

b and that −α(t) = β(t).
domain Q,

Theorem 7.1. If v is the global solution of the mixed problem (6.5), then
we have R t ds
−C2
E(v, t) ≤ C1 e 0 β(s)2 ,

for all t > 0.

δ
Remark 7.1. Note that C1 = C0 β02 E(v0 , 0), C2 = and
60 C0

1 + 2 k 16 (k + δ)
C0 = +
β02 m0

δ
with k such that 20 k = .
4
494 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Proof of Theorem 7.1: Let us consider the perturbation of E(v, t) given

by:
h i
(7.3) F (v, t) = E(v, t) + k 2 (v 0 (t), v(t)) + δ |v 0 (t)|2

where k is a constant to be fixed; see Remark 7.1. This method of working with a
perturbed energy F (v, t) was employed by Komornik–Zuazua [11]. We also refer
to Nakao–Narazaki [15] and Hosya–Yamada [9].
Since
¯ ¯ k 0 2
¯ ¯
(7.4) ¯2 k (v 0 (t), v(t))¯ ≤ |v (t)| + k δ |v(t)|2 ,
δ
we obtain:
k
(7.5) 2 k (v 0 (t), v(t)) + k δ |v(t)|2 ≥ − |v 0 (t)|2 .
δ
Then, from (7.4) and (7.5) we modify (7.3), obtaining:
µ ¶
1 k m0 m1 1
F (v, t) ≥ − |v 0 (t)|2 + 2
kv(t)k2 + 3
kv(t)k4 + a(t, v, v) .
2 δ 16 β 32 β 2
k 1
If we take k > 0 such that < we obtain:
δ 4
1
(7.6) F (v, t) ≥ E(v, t) .
2
From (7.3) we also have

(7.7) F (v, t) ≤ E(v, t) + k |v 0 (t)|2 + (k + δ) |v(t)|2 ,

since
16 2
|v 0 (t)|2 ≤ 2 E(v, t) and |v(t)|2 ≤ β (t) E(v, t) .
m0
From (7.7) we obtain:
µ ¶
k+δ
F (v, t) ≤ (1 + 2 k) E(v, t) + 16 β 2 E(v, t)
m0
µ ¶
1 + 2k 2 k+δ
≤ β E(v, t) + 16 β 2 E(v, t) ,
β0 m0

since β(t) ≥ β(0) = β0 . Then:

(7.8) F (v, t) ≤ C0 β 2 E(v, t) ,

 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 495

with
1 + 2 k 16 (k+δ)
C0 = + .
β02 m0
Taking the time derivative of F (v, t) we have:

dF dE h i
(7.9) = + k 2 (v 00 (t), v(t)) + 2 |v 0 (t)|2 + 2 δ (v 0 (t), v(t)) .
dt dt
From the first estimate in Section 7, we have:
dE δ
(7.10) ≤ − |v 0 (t)|2 .
dt 2
Multiplying both sides of (6.5)1 by v and integrating on (0, 1), we obtain:
µ ¶
1 1
(7.11) (v 00 (t), v(t)) + M̌ kv(t)k2 kv(t)k2 + a(t, v(t), v(t)) +
4 β2 2β
µ ¶ µ ¶
∂v 0 ∂v
+ b(y, t) , v(t) + c(y, t) , v(t) + δ(v 0 (t), v(t)) = 0 .
∂y ∂y
We verify that:
¯µ 0 ¶¯ µ 0 ¶2
¯ ¯
(7.12) ¯ b(y, t) ∂v , v(t) ¯ ≤ 1 β kv(t)k2 + 9 |v 0 (t)|2 ,
¯ ∂y ¯ 4 β
¯µ ¶¯ µ 0 ¶2
¯ ¯
(7.13) ¯ c(y, t) ∂v , v(t) ¯ ≤ 1 β kv(t)k2 ,
¯ ∂y ¯ 2 β
µ ¶
1 m0
(7.14) a(t, v(t), v(t)) ≥ − β 02 kv(t)k2 .
4 β2 2

Then, from (7.12), (7.13) and (7.14) we obtain:

µ ¶ µ ¶
∂v 0 ∂v
(7.15) a(t, v(t), v(t)) + b(y, t) , v(t) + c(y, t) , v(t) ≥
∂y ∂y
µ ¶
1 m0
≥ − 4 β 02
kv(t)k2 − 9 |v 0 (t)|2
4 β2 2
≥ −9 |v 0 (t)|2 ,
m0
since − 4β 02 > 0.
2
Then, from (7.11), (7.15) and by definition of M̌ (λ), we have:
m0 m1
(7.16) (v 00 (t), v(t)) + δ(v 0 (t), v(t)) ≤ − 2
kv(t)k2 − kv(t)k4 + 9 |v 0 (t)|2 .
8β 8 β3
496 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

Then, substituting (7.10) and (7.16) in (7.9), we obtain:

" #
dF δ m0 m1
≤ − |v 0 (t)|2 + k 2 |v 0 (t)|2 − 2
kv(t)k2 − kv(t)k4 + 18 |v 0 (t)|2
dt 2 4β 4 β3
or µ ¶
dF δ k m0 k m1
+ − 20 k |v 0 (t)|2 + 2
kv(t)k2 + kv(t)k2 ≤ 0 .
dt 2 4β 4 β2
δ
Taking k such that 20 k = , we get
4
· ¸
dF δ δ m0 m1
(7.17) + |v 0 (t)|2 + 2
kv(t)k2 + kv(t)k2 ≤ 0 .
dt 4 20 16 β 16 β 3

We have:
m0
0 < a(t, v(t), v(t)) ≤ kv(t)k2
8 β2
which substituted in (7.2) gives:

1 0 2 3 m0 m1
E(v, t) ≤ |v (t)| + 2
kv(t)k2 + kv(t)k4 ,
2 16 β 32 β 3
µ ¶
δ δ δ m0 m1
(7.18) E(v, t) ≤ |v 0 (t)|2 + 2
kv(t)k2 + kv(t)k4 .
20 4 20 16 β 16 β 3

Substituting (7.18) in (7.17) we obtain:

dF δ
(7.19) + E(v, t) ≤ 0 for all t ≥ 0 .
dt 60
From (7.8) and (7.19) we obtain:
Rt
− 60δC ds
F (v, t) ≤ F (v0 , 0) e 0 0 β(s)2 .

From (7.6), this last inequality implies:

Rt
− 60δC ds
E(v, t) ≤ 2 F (v0 , 0) e 0 0 β(s)2 .

Applications

Case 1. Suppose that m > 2, is an integer and

1
β(t) = (t + t0 ) m , t, t0 > 0 .
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 497

We have: m−2
m C2
E(v, t) ≤ Cm e− m−2 (t+t0 )
m

which gives an exponential decay.

Case 2. Suppose that m = 2. Then

β(t) = (t + t0 )1/2 .

We obtain:
E(v, t) ≤ C1 (t + t0 )−C2 , C2 > 0 ,
which gives an algebraic decay.

Remark 7.2. We have:

Z 1 1 ∂v 2 Z µ ¶
1 0 2 m0
E(v, t) = (v ) dy + dy
2 0 16 β 2 0 ∂y
µZ 1µ ¶2 ¶2 Z µ ¶2
m1 ∂v 1 1 ∂v
+ dy + a(y, t) dy .
32 β 3 0 ∂y 2 0 ∂y
If
∂u ∂v
2 β y = x+β , 2 β dy = dx , 2β = ,
∂x ∂y
then the above quantity, in the cylinder Q, is transformed, into the noncylindrical
domain Q,b in the following one
" Z
1 1 +βµ β 0 x ∂u
¶2
m0
Z +βµ ∂u ¶2
E(u, t) = + u0 dx + dx
2β 2 −β β ∂x 4 −β ∂x
µZ #
m1 +βµ ∂u ¶2 ¶2 Z +βµ m µ
β0x
¶2 ¶ µ
∂u
¶2
0
+ dx + − dx .
4 −β ∂x −β 2 β ∂x

c(λ) = m0 λ + m1 λ2 . Then
We have M
2 2
" Z
1 1 +βµ β 0 x ∂u
¶2
1 c
µZ +βµ ∂u ¶2 ¶
E(u, t) = + u0 dx + M dx
2β 2 −β β ∂x 2 −β ∂x
(7.20) #
Z +βµ m µ
β0x
¶2 ¶ µ
∂u
¶2
0
+ − dx .
−β 2 β ∂x

The last integral is positive, then:

1 b
E(u, t) ≥ E(u, t)
2β
498 J. LIMACO FERREL and L.A. MEDEIROS

where
1
Z +βµ β 0 x ∂u
¶2
1 c
µZ +βµ ∂u ¶2 ¶
b
E(u, t) = + u0 dx + M dx .
2 −β β ∂x 2 −β ∂x
b
The behaviour of E(u, t) depends essentially on β because
Rt
1 b C2 ds
0 β(s)2
E(u, t) ≤ β C1 e .
2
For example, if β(t) = (1+t)1/2 , then
1 b
E(u, t) ≤ C1 (1 + t)2−C2 ,
2
and we need C2 > 2 to have a decay of algebraic type. Note that C2 depends on
m0 , δ and β0 .

Remark 7.3. We found in (7.20)

· Z µ
2 ¶¸ Z µ ¶
1 1 +β β 0 ∂u 1 +β β 0 ∂u 2
E(u, t) = x + u0 dx + x dx
2 β 2 −β β ∂x 2 −β β ∂x
µZ +βµ ¶ ¶ Z +β · µ ¶ ¸µ ¶
1 c ∂u 2 m0 3 β 0 2 ∂u 2
+ M dx + − x dx .
2 −β ∂x −β 2 2 β ∂x

Observe that
µ ¶2 µ ¶2 µ ¶2
0 2 0 β 0 ∂u β 0 ∂u 1 β 0 ∂u 1 β 0 ∂u
(u ) = u + x − x ≤ u0 + x + x .
β ∂x β ∂x 2 β ∂x 2 β ∂x
Then, ÃZ
+β µZ +βµ ∂u ¶2 ¶!
1 0 2 1 c
E(u, t) ≥ (u ) dx + M dx .
2β −β 2 −β ∂x
If we represent by
Z β µZ β µ ¶2 ¶
b
b 1 c ∂u
E(u, t) = (u0 )2 dx + M dx
−β 2 −β ∂x

we have
1 bb
E(u, t) ≤ E(u, t), for all t ≥ 0 .
2β
Now suppose that β 0 is strictly positive and
δ 1
0 < β 0 (t) < for all t ≥ 0
120 C0 β
 KIRCHHOFF–CARRIER ELASTIC STRINGS 499

with µ ¶1/2
δ m0
<C .
120 C0 β0 2
Note that δ, m0 , C0 , C are the constants fixed above.
We obtain Z t Z t 0
δ ds β
− 2
≤ −2 ds
60 C0 0 β (s) 0 β
or µ Z t ¶
δ ds β02
exp − < .
60 C 0 β 2 β(t)2
Substituting in the inequality of Theorem 7.1, we obtain:

C0 β 0
E(v, t) ≤ E(v, 0) .
β 2 (t)

bb
But E(u, t) < 2 β E(v, t). This gives

bb 2 C0 β04 E(v0 , 0)
E(u, t) ≤ .
β(t)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – We take this opportunity to express our appreciation to

E. Zuazua who read the first version of this work, proposing substantial modifications.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] Arosio, A. and Spagnolo, S. – Global solutions to the Cauchy problem for
a nonlinear hyperbolic equation, in “Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations and
Their Applications”, Collège de France Seminar (H. Brezis and J.L. Lions, Eds.),
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J. Limaco Ferrel,
Instituto de Matemática UFF,
Rua São Paulo s/n, CEP 24210-110 Niterói RJ – BRASIL

and

L.A. Medeiros,
Instituto de Matemática UFRJ,
C.P. 68530 – CEP 21944-970, Rio de Janeiro, RJ – BRASIL