Qualitative behavior of global solutions to some nonlinear fourth order differential equations (Q640039)

The paper studies global solutions to the fourth order semilinear ordinary differential equation \[ w''''(s)+kw''(s)+f(w(s))=0\quad (s\in\mathbb R), \tag{1} \] where \(k\in\mathbb R\) and \(f\) is a locally Lipschitz function. Equation (1) is known to arise in several contexts. The purpose of the paper is to contribute to a better understanding of the qualitative properties of the solutions to (1) when the nonlinearity \(f\) satisfies the following conditions: \[ f(t)t>0\quad\text{for every}\quad t\in\mathbb R\setminus\{0\} \tag{2} \] and \[ \limsup_{t\to+\infty}\frac{f(t)}{t}<+\infty\quad\text{or}\quad \limsup_{t\to-\infty}\frac{f(t)}{t}<+\infty. \tag{3} \] The main results are concerned with the continuation of solutions and are as follows. Theorem 1. Let \(k\in\mathbb R\) and assume that \(f\) satisfies (2) and (3). Then any local solution to (1) exists for all \(s\in\mathbb R\). Theorem 2. Let \(k\in\mathbb R\) and assume that \(f\) satisfies (2). If a local solution \(w\) to (1) blows up at some finite \(r\in\mathbb R\), then \[ \liminf_{s\to r}w(s)=-\infty\quad\text{and}\quad \limsup_{s\to r}w(s)=+\infty. \] The paper also studies the qualitative behavior of global solutions to (1): 1. oscillations and boundedness as \(s\to\pm\infty\); 2. the existence and nonexistence of homoclinics, i.e., nontrivial solutions \(w\) such that \[ \lim_{s\to\pm\infty}w(s)=0. \]