Finite time blow-up in nonlinear suspension bridge models (Q743887)

The authors prove a conjecture concerning solutions of the fourth order ODE \[ w^{(4)}+k w''+f(w)=0 \] which arises in models of travelling waves in suspension bridges when \(k>0\) [\textit{F. Gazzola} and \textit{R. Pavani}, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 207, No. 2, 717--752 (2013; Zbl 1278.34036)]. Under suitable conditions on the nonlinearity \(f\) and initial on the value, they demonstrate blow-up in finite time. The case \(k\leq 0\) is also handled with a proof that requires less differentiability on \(f\). This blow-up is non-monotone, with solutions oscillating to higher amplitudes over shrinking time intervals.