On the solvability of a boundary value problem for a fourth-order ordinary differential equation (Q2484633)

This paper deals with a boundary value problem of the form \[ u^{(iv)}+Au''+Bu+f(x,u)=0, \, u(0)-u(T)=0=u''(0)-u''(T). \] A typical example of a function \(f\) which is treated in the present paper is \(f(x,u)=b(x)u| u| ^{p-2}\), with \(p>2\) and \(b\) a continuous positive function. The special case \(B=-1\) and \(f(x,u)=u^3\) is related to various equations describing the formation of spatial periodic patterns in bistable systems. Conditions on \(A,B\) are given which ensure the existence of at least two nontrivial solutions. Under the additional assumption that \(F(x,u)=\int_0^uf(x,t)\,dt\) is even in the second variable, sufficient conditions are given for the existence of at least \(n\) (a suitable positive integer) pairs of nontrivial solutions. The proof is performed in the framework of variational methods. More precisely, it is applied the Brézis-Nirenberg theorem and, for the case when \(F\) is even, a result by D. C. Clark. Besides the references given in the paper, the interested reader may consult the paper by\textit{M. Conti, S. Terracini} and \textit{G. Verzini} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 356, No.8, 3283--3300 (2004; Zbl 1074.34047)].