Existence results for a self-adjoint coupled system of three nonlinear ordinary differential equations with cyclic boundary conditions (Q2144659)

In this paper, the authors study the existence of solutions to a self-adjoint coupled system of three nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations \[ \begin{cases} (p(t)u'(t))'=\mu_1f(t,u(t),v(t),w(t)), & t\in[a,b], \\ (p(t)v'(t))'=\mu_2g(t,u(t),v(t),w(t)), & t\in[a,b], \\ (p(t)w'(t))'=\mu_3h(t,u(t),v(t),w(t)), & t\in[a,b] \\ \end{cases} \] equipped with cyclic boundary conditions \[ \begin{cases} u(a)+v(b)=0, & u'(a)+v'(b)=0, \\ v(a)+w(b)=0, & v'(a)+w'(b)=0, \\ w(a)+u(b)=0, & w'(a)+u'(b)=0, \\ \end{cases} \] where \(f,g,h:[a,b]\times\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}\) are given continuous functions, \(p,q,r\in C([a,b],\mathbb{R}^+)\) and \(\mu_i\in\mathbb{R}^+, i=1,2,3\). They apply the fixed point theorems (Leray-Schauder alternative, Schauder's fixed point theorem, Banachs contraction mapping principle) to obtain criteria ensuring the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the above self-adjoint coupled system. The main results are well-illustrated with the aid of numerical examples.