Regularity problem for quasilinear elliptic and parabolic systems (Q1899204)

The book represents results obtained by a thorough and detailed investigations of a method of proving the existence of smooth solutions to a class of elliptic and parabolic systems proposed by A. I. Koshelev. In the elliptic case the method can be roughly described as a try to find a solution to an elliptic system (1) \(Lu= f\) (accompanied by suitable boundary conditions) as a limit of solutions to an iterative process \[ \Delta u_n= \Delta u_{n- 1}+ \varepsilon (Lu_{n- 1}- f)\tag{2} \] with the same boundary conditions and a suitably chosen constant \(\varepsilon\). The fundamental step consists in precise, explicit and sharp estimates of the norm of \(\nabla u\) in terms of the right hand side \(f\) of the equation (3) \(\Delta u= \text{div } f\) in weighted spaces. If the operator \(L\) can be approximated well enough by a multiple of the Laplace operator, the norm of the right hand side in (2) can be controlled by sufficiently small multiple of the norm of \(\nabla u_{n- 1}\). Using this procedure it is possible to prove the convergence of the iterative scheme to the smooth solution of (1). Chapter 1 is devoted to the basic definitions, the notion of iterative process and its convergence in energetic norms both in elliptic and parabolic cases. Chapter 2 contains the proof of fundamental estimates in weighted spaces and its applications to a class of elliptic systems, resulting in the Hölder continuity of the weak solutions. An example of De Giorgi type illustrates that some of the estimates and condition for symmetric systems are sharp. Chapter 3 concentrates on applications and consequences of previous results. Liouville type theorems are proved there and Hölder continuity of displacements for models of elasto-plastic media with hardening is obtained. The estimates of second gradient of solutions in weighted spaces are studied in Chapter 4 and used to get conditions guaranteeing Hölder continuity of the gradient of a weak solution. Chapter 5 deals with quasilinear parabolic systems. The fundamental role of the Laplace operator is substituted here by the heat operator. Analogous results about Hölder continuity and Liouville type theorems are given here. In the last Chapter 6 the Navier-Stokes system is studied; estimates for stationary and nonstationary Stokes system are proved there, a suitable iterative scheme is defined and sufficient conditions for the existence of smooth solutions are given.