On a variational problem from one-dimensional nonlinear elasticity (Q1101671)

Let \(F:{\mathbb{R}}\times (0,\infty)\to {\mathbb{R}}\) be a smooth and bounded function. Let \(F(p,u)\) be a convex function of its first argument and nonconvex in the second one. The author studies the structure of minimizers of the functional \[ (1)\quad I_{\mu}[u(x)]=\int^{1}_{- 1}F(\mu u\{x),u(x))dx,\quad \mu >0 \] for small values of \(\mu)\) on the admissible set \[ (2)\quad A_{\mu \gamma}=\{u\in W^{1,1}(-1,1)\quad: u>0,\quad I_{\mu}(u(x)]<\infty \text{ and \(u(x)\) satisfies (3), (4)}\}, \] \[ (3)\quad u(-1)=u(+1)=1,\quad (4)\quad \int^{1}_{- 1}u(x)dx=2\gamma,\quad \gamma >1. \] \(W^{1,1}(-1,1)\) denotes the Sobolev space of integrable functions on [-1,1] with first generalized derivatives. This problem arises from one-dimensional elasticity theory for a prismatical rod in unaxial tension and with clamped ends. The integral \(I_{\mu}\) is the energy of a rod which is made of an incompressible isotropic hyperelastic material, u(x) is the axial displacement F is the stored energy density function. Using a phase-plane analysis the author proves that for small values of \(\mu\) there is a unique minimizer of \(I_{\mu}\). The existence of boundary layers for problems with Dirichlet boundary conditions is proved. It is shown that the minimizer \(u_{\mu}(x)\) of \(I_{\mu}\) for \(\mu\) small is approximately constant \(u_{\mu}\cong \gamma\) away from boundary layers near \(x=\pm 1\).