Existence of positive solutions for a fourth-order periodic boundary value problem (Q642734)

Summary: The existence of positive solutions is obtained for the fourth-order periodic boundary value problem \[ u^{(4)} - \beta u'' + \alpha u = f(t, u, u''),\;0 \leq t \leq 1, \] \[ u^{(i)}(0) = u^{(i)}(1),\;i = 0, 1, 2, 3, \] where \(f : [0 ,1] \times \mathbb R^+ \times \mathbb R \rightarrow \mathbb R^+\) is continuous, and \(\alpha, \beta \in \mathbb R\) with \(0 < \alpha < ((\beta/2) + 2\pi^2)^2\), \(\beta > -2\pi^2\), \((\alpha/\pi^4) + (\beta/\pi^2) + 1 > 0\). The proof is based on fixed point index theory in cones.