Asymptotic behavior of coupled linear systems modeling suspension bridges (Q2355509)

The authors first nicely describe several mathematical models for the vibrations of string-beam systems. Assuming a linear response of the suspender cables connecting the beam and the strings of the modeled suspension bridge, one arrives at the coupled linear inhomogeneous system \[ \partial_{tt} u + \partial_{xxxx} u + \gamma_1 \partial_t u + k(u-v) + h \partial_t (u-v) = f, \] \[ \varepsilon \partial_{tt} v - \partial_{xx} v + \gamma_2 \partial_t v - k(u-v) - h \partial_t (u-v) = g, \] where all constants are non-negative. The authors then study the exponential decay of solutions for the homogeneous problem. It is noticed that the decay can be easily established in the case \(\gamma_1, \gamma_2 > 0\) and \(h \geq 0\), and therefore the authors concentrate on the other cases. More generally, for fixed \(\varepsilon, k > 0\) and \(\theta \in [0,2]\) and given \(\gamma \geq 0\) and \(h \geq 0\) the abstract system \[ \ddot{u} + A^2 u + \gamma A^{\theta} \dot{u} + k(u-v) + h(\dot{u} - \dot{v}) = 0, \] \[ \varepsilon \ddot{v} + Av - k(u-v) -h(\dot{u} - \dot{v}) = 0 \] is studied, where \(A\) is assumed to be a strictly positive self-adjoint operator \(A\) on some Hilbert space \(H\) whose domain is compactly embedded in \(H\). It is then noticed that an appropriate realization of the system generates a contractive semigroup in a natural phase space. Further, it is shown in the case \(\gamma > 0\) and \(h = 0\) that the semigroup is stable, but not expontentially stable. In contrast, in the main result the exponential stability is obtained for \(\gamma = 0\) and \(h > 0\). Hereby, the authors make the following interesting observation: if \(\gamma\) is assumed to be strictly positive, the exponential decay can be obtained by standard energy estimates. In the case \(\gamma = 0\) the exponential decay is still valid. But it seems that this cannot be established via energy estimates. Instead, the theory of semigroups is employed via the use of the Gearhart-Prüss theorem.