On the initial value problem of the semilinear beam equation with weak damping. I: Smoothing effect (Q1941350)

The paper is concerned with the initial value problem for the following damped beam equation \[ \partial_t^2 u + \partial_t u + \partial_x^4 u - \alpha \partial_x^2 u = \partial_xf(\partial_x u), \qquad t>0, x\in \mathbb R, \] \[ u(0,x)=g_0(x),\quad \partial_t u(0,x)=g_1(x), \quad x\in \mathbb R. \] It is assumed that \(\alpha\) is a positive constant and that \(f\in C^1(\mathbb R)\) satisfies, for some \(p\geq 2\): \[ \begin{aligned} &|f(v)|\leq C|v|^p,\qquad |f'(v)|\leq C|v|^{p-1},\\ &|f(v_1)-f(v_2)|\leq C(|v_1|^{p-1} + |v_2|^{p-1})|v_1-v_2|,\\ &|f'(v_1)-f'(v_2)|\leq C(|v_1|^{p-2} + |v_2|^{p-2})|v_1-v_2|.\end{aligned} \] Unique global existence of a small solution is proven and, furthermore, a smoothing effect is obtained.