First Noether-type theorem for the generalized variational principle of Herglotz (Q1411245)

Most variational formulations are expressed in integral forms in open literature. Herglotz's variational principle, however, defines a functional \(z\) by a differential equation in the form: \(dz/dt=L(t,x(x),dx(t)/dt,z)\), where \(t\) is the independent variable, and \(x\) denotes the dependent variables. In case \(L\) does not depend upon \(z\), Herglotz's variational principle reduces to the classical one. As it is well-known that Noether's theorems are applicable only to the classical variational principle, in order to expand Noether's theorems to Herglotz's variational principle, the present authors provide the conserved quantities of a system described by Herglotz's variational principle, and obtain a generalized theorem, which includes naturally the Noether's theorems as a special case. Some applications are also given in this paper. Many potential applications of Herglotz's variational principle can be found in such areas that classical variational principle can not be established.