In this paper, we consider the $L^2$-gradient flow for the modified $p$-elastic energy defined on planar closed curves. We formulate a notion of weak solution for the flow and prove the existence of global-in-time weak solutions with $p \ge 2$ for initial curves in the energy space via minimizing movements. Moreover, we prove the existence of unique global-in-time solutions to the flow with $p=2$ and obtain their subconvergence to an elastica as $t \to \infty$.
In this article we deduce necessary and sufficient conditions for the presence of `Conti-type', highly symmetric, exactly-stress free constructions in the geometrically non-linear, planar $n$-well problem, generalising results of [CKZ17]. Passing to the limit $n\rightarrow \infty$, this allows us to treat solid crystals and nematic elastomer differential inclusions simultaneously. In particular, we recover and generalise (non-linear) planar tripole star type deformations which were experimentally observed in [MA80,MA80a,KK91]. Further we discuss the corresponding geometrically linearised probl…
We consider a second order gradient flow of the p-elastic energy for a planar theta-network of three curves with fixed lengths. We construct a weak solution of the flow by means of an implicit variational scheme. We show long-time existence of the evolution and convergence to a critical point of the energy.
We show the existence of quasistatic evolutions in a fracture model for brittle materials by a vanishing viscosity approach, in the setting of planar linearized elasticity. The crack is not prescribed a priori and is selected in a class of (unions of) regular curves. To prove the result, it is crucial to analyze the properties of the energy release rate.
Under suitable regularity assumptions the $p$-elastic energy of a planar set $E\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ is defined to be $\int_{\partial E} 1 + |k_{\partial E}|^p \,\, d\mathcal{H}^1,$ where $k_{\partial E}$ is the curvature of the boundary $\partial E$. In this work we use a varifold approach to investigate this energy, that can be well defined on varifolds with curvature. First we show new tools for the study of 1-dimensional curvature varifolds, such as existence and uniform bounds on the density of varifolds with finite elastic energy. Then we characterize a new notion of $L^1$-relaxation of t…
We study the evolution of closed inextensible planar curves under a second order flow that decreases the $p$-elastic energy. A short time existence result for $p \in (1,\infty)$ is obtained via a minimizing movements method. For $p = 2$, that is in the case of the classic elastic energy, long-time existence is retrieved.
Geometric gradient flows for elastic energies of Willmore type play an important role in mathematics and in many applications. The evolution of elastic curves has been studied in detail both for closed as well as for open curves. Although elastic flows for networks also have many interesting features, they have not been studied so far from the point of view of mathematical analysis. So far it was not even clear what are appropriate boundary conditions at junctions. In this paper we give a well-posedness result for Willmore flow of networks in different geometric settings and hence lay a founda…
We consider planar networks of three curves that meet at two junctions with prescribed equal angles, minimizing a combination of the elastic energy and the length functional. We prove existence and regularity of minimizers, and we show some properties of the minimal configurations.
Contour Parametrization via Anisotropic Mean Curvature Flows
Department of Mathematics, University of California, Santa Barbara, on leave from , Instituto de Matem\'aticas, Instituto de Matem\'aticas, Universidad Nacional Aut\'onoma de M\'exico, Mexico City