Convergence and decay estimates for a class of second order dissipative equations involving a non-negative potential energy (Q664719)

The following abstract second order Cauchy problem is considered \[ \ddot{u}(t)+g(\dot{u}(t))+\mathcal{M}(u(t))=0, \;t\geq 0, \] \[ u(0)=u_0\in V, \dot{u}(0)=u_1\in H, \] where \(H\) and \(V\) are two Hilbert spaces with \(V\) densely and continuously embedded into \(H\), \(\mathcal{M}\in C^1(V,V')\) is the gradient operator of a non-negative functional and \(g:H\rightarrow V'\) is a non-linear damping operator. Under conditions relating the Łojasiewicz exponent of the functional and the growth of the damping around the origin, the authors estimate the rate of decay of the difference between a solution and its limiting equilibrium. The main result is applied to non-linear wave and plate equations, also in the case when a fast decaying source term is added. Moreover, in some considered cases, constructive proofs the Łojasiewicz gradient inequality are given.