Multiple positive solutions to BVPs for higher-order nonlinear differential equations in Banach spaces (Q5942771)

This paper concerns the following higher-order \((n\geq 3)\) nonlinear boundary value problem \[ u^{(n)} + f(t,u(t),u'(t), \dots, u^{(n-2)}(t))=0, \] \[ u^{(i)}(0)=0 \text{ for } 0\leq i \leq n-3, \quad a u^{(n-2)}(0) - b u^{(n-1)}(0)=0, \quad c u^{(n-2)}(1) + d u^{(n-1)}(1)=0, \] with \(t \in [0,1]\), \(u\in C^n(I,E)\) with \(E\) a Banach space, \(f\) continuous satisfying \(f(t,0,\cdots,0)\equiv 0\). By using conical expansion, compression fixed-point principle and the fixed-point index theory, criteria for the existence of multiple positive solutions are proved. The results extend previous existence theorems for such higher-order BVPs due to \textit{F.-H. Wong} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 126, No. 8, 2389-2397 (1998; Zbl 0895.34016)].