# Past OxPDE Special Seminar

17 January 2014
14:00
to
15:30
Filip Rindler
Abstract

In elasticity theory, one naturally requires that the Jacobian determinant of the deformation is positive or even a-priori prescribed (for example incompressibility). However, such strongly non-linear and non-convex constraints are difficult to deal with in mathematical models. In this talk, which is based on joint work with K. Koumatos (Oxford) and E. Wiedemann (UBC/PIMS), I will present various recent results on how this constraint can be manipulated in subcritical Sobolev spaces, where the integrability exponent is less than the dimension.

In particular, I will give a characterization theorem for Young measures under this side constraint, which are widely used in the Calculus of Variations to model limits of nonlinear functions of weakly converging "generating" sequences. This is in the spirit of the celebrated Kinderlehrer--Pedregal Theorem and based on convex integration and "geometry" in matrix space.

Finally, applications to the minimization of integral functionals, the theory of semiconvex hulls, incompressible extensions, and approximation of weakly orientation-preserving maps by strictly orientation-preserving ones in Sobolev spaces are given.

• OxPDE Special Seminar
16 January 2014
16:00
to
17:30
Abstract
Attempting to extend the methods of critical point theory (e.g., those of Morse theory and Lusternik-Schnirelman theory) to the study of strong local minimizers of integral functionals of the calculus of variations I will describe how the obstruction method of algebraic topology can be successfully used to tackle the enumeration problem for various homotopy classes of maps in Sobolev spaces and that how this will result in precise lower bounds on the number of such local minimizers in terms of convenient topological invariants of the underlying spaces. I will then move on to dicussing variants as well as applications of the result to some classes of geometric nonlinear PDEs in particular problems in nonlinear elasticity.
• OxPDE Special Seminar
16 January 2014
14:00
to
15:30
Abstract

In the theory of dislocations one is naturally led to consider energies of “line tension” type concentrated on lines. These lines may have a local vector-valued multiplicity, and the energy may depend on this multiplicity and on the orientation of the line. In the two-dimensional case this problem reduces to the classical problem of energies defined on partitions which arises in the sharp-interface models for phase transitions.

I will introduce the main results concerning functionals in the calculus of variations that are defined on partitions. Such partitions are nicely characterized as level sets of function with bounded variations with a discrete set of values.  In this setting I will recall the characterization of the lower semicontinuity and the relaxation formula, which gives rise to the notion of BV-ellipticity. The case of dislocations in a three-dimensional crystal requires a formulation in the setting of 1-rectifiable currents with multiplicity in a lattice. In this context I will describe the main results and some examples of interest, in which relaxation is necessary and can be characterized.

• OxPDE Special Seminar
27 November 2013
14:00
Professor Mikhail Korobkov
Abstract

We study the nonhomogeneous boundary value problem for Navier--Stokes equations of steady motion of a viscous incompressible fluid in  a plane or spatial exterior domain with multiply connected boundary. We prove that this problem has a solution for axially symmetric case (without any restrictions on fluxes, etc.)  No restriction on the size of fluxes are required. This is a joint result with K.Pileckas and R.Russo.

• OxPDE Special Seminar
7 August 2013
12:00
Abstract
<p>We will present in this lecture the global existence of weak solutions and the local existence and uniqueness of strong-in-time solutions for the fully-coupled Navier-Stokes/Q-tensor system on a bounded domain $\O\subset\mathbb{R}^d$ ($d=2,3$) with inhomogenerous Dirichlet and Neumann or mixed boundary conditions. Our result is valid for any physical parameter $\xi$ and we consider the Navier-Stokes equations with a general (but smooth) viscosity coefficient.</p>
• OxPDE Special Seminar
14 June 2013
12:00
Abstract

The optimal function spaces for the local-in-time well-posedness theory of the Navier-Stokes equations are closely related to the scaling symmetry of the equations. This might appear to be tied to particular methods used in the proofs, but in this talk we will raise the possibility that the equations are actually ill-posed for finite-energy initial data just at the borderline of some of the most benign scale-invariant spaces. This is related to debates about the adequacy of the Leray-Hopf weak solutions for predicting the time evolution of the system. (Joint work with Hao Jia.)

• OxPDE Special Seminar
31 May 2013
10:00
Michel Chipot
Abstract
<p>A mini-lecture series consisting of four 1 hour lectures.</p> We would like to consider asymptotic behaviour of various problems set in cylinders. Let $\Omega_\ell = (-\ell,\ell)\times (-1,1)$ be the simplest cylinder possible. A good model problem is the following. Consider $u_\ell$ the weak solution to $$\cases{ -\partial_{x_1}^2 u_\ell - \partial_{x_2}^2 u_\ell = f(x_2) \quad \hbox{in } \Omega_\ell, \quad \cr \cr u_\ell = 0 \quad \hbox{ on } \quad \partial \Omega_\ell. \cr}$$ When $\ell \to \infty$ is it trues that the solution converges toward $u_\infty$ the solution of the lower dimensional problem below ? $$\cases{ - \partial_{x_2}^2 u_\infty = f(x_2) \quad \hbox{in }(-1,1), \quad \cr \cr u_\infty = 0 \quad \hbox{ on } \quad \partial (-1,1). \cr}$$ If so in what sense ? With what speed of convergence with respect to $\ell$ ? What happens when $f$ is also allowed to depend on $x_1$ ? What happens if $f$ is periodic in $x_1$, is the solution forced to be periodic at the limit ? What happens for general elliptic operators ? For more general cylinders ? For nonlinear problems ? For variational inequalities ? For systems like the Stokes problem or the system of elasticity ? For general problems ? ... We will try to give an update on all these issues and bridge these questions with anisotropic singular perturbations problems. \smallskip \noindent {\bf Prerequisites} : Elementary knowledge on Sobolev Spaces and weak formulation of elliptic problems.
• OxPDE Special Seminar
24 May 2013
10:00
Michel Chipot
Abstract
<p>A mini-lecture series consisting of four 1 hour lectures.</p> We would like to consider asymptotic behaviour of various problems set in cylinders. Let $\Omega_\ell = (-\ell,\ell)\times (-1,1)$ be the simplest cylinder possible. A good model problem is the following. Consider $u_\ell$ the weak solution to $$\cases{ -\partial_{x_1}^2 u_\ell - \partial_{x_2}^2 u_\ell = f(x_2) \quad \hbox{in } \Omega_\ell, \quad \cr \cr u_\ell = 0 \quad \hbox{ on } \quad \partial \Omega_\ell. \cr}$$ When $\ell \to \infty$ is it trues that the solution converges toward $u_\infty$ the solution of the lower dimensional problem below ? $$\cases{ - \partial_{x_2}^2 u_\infty = f(x_2) \quad \hbox{in }(-1,1), \quad \cr \cr u_\infty = 0 \quad \hbox{ on } \quad \partial (-1,1). \cr}$$ If so in what sense ? With what speed of convergence with respect to $\ell$ ? What happens when $f$ is also allowed to depend on $x_1$ ? What happens if $f$ is periodic in $x_1$, is the solution forced to be periodic at the limit ? What happens for general elliptic operators ? For more general cylinders ? For nonlinear problems ? For variational inequalities ? For systems like the Stokes problem or the system of elasticity ? For general problems ? ... We will try to give an update on all these issues and bridge these questions with anisotropic singular perturbations problems. \smallskip \noindent {\bf Prerequisites} : Elementary knowledge on Sobolev Spaces and weak formulation of elliptic problems.
• OxPDE Special Seminar