Obstacle problem for nonlinear parabolic equations (Q1018380)

The authors consider the obstacle problem \(\frac {\partial u}{\partial t}\geq \nabla\cdot {\mathcal A}(x,t,\nabla u)\), \(u\geq\psi\), where \({\mathcal A}(x,t,\xi)\approx |\xi|^{p-2}\xi\), \(\xi\in\mathbb R^n\), \(p>2n/(n+2)\) and \(\psi\) is a continuous obstacle depending on both space and time variables. The solution is defined as smallest weak supersolution above the given obstacle. The authors apply a modification of the Schwarz alternating method and construct an increasing sequence of functions using continuous solutions to Dirichlet boundary value problems. Its limit is the unique continuous solution to the obstacle problem. If, in addition, the obstacle is Hölder continuous, the solution is also Hölder continuous.