On Neumann's problem for a quasilinear differential system of finite elastostatics type. Local theorems of existence and uniqueness (Q788891)

This paper concerns the Neumann's boundary value problem for a quasilinear differential system of the type of finite elastostatics. More precisely let \(\Omega\) be a bounded open subset of \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\), let \(\nu\) be the unit outward normal to \(\partial \Omega\) and let a:\({\bar \Omega}\times {\mathbb{R}}^{n^ 2}\to {\mathbb{R}}^{n^ 2}\), \(f:\Omega \to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) and \(g:\partial \Omega \to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) be given functions with \(a(x,1)=0\), \(\forall x\in \Omega\). Then one looks for a function u:\({\bar \Omega}\to {\mathbb{R}}^ n\) such that \[ (P)\quad div A(u)+\vartheta f=0\quad in\quad \Omega,\quad -A(u)\nu +\vartheta g=0\quad on\quad \partial \Omega, \] where \(A(u)(x)=a(x,1+Du(x))\quad \forall x\in \Omega \quad bu=(D_ ju_ i) i,j=1,...,n\) and \(\vartheta\) is a real parameter. When \(n=3\) this problem corresponds to the ''dead traction problem'' of finite elastostatics. The main results are local theorems of existence and uniqueness in Sobolev spaces and in Schauder spaces. The only hypotheses made on the function a are those suggested by the physical problem and thus any artificial assumption has been avoided. The results obtained are essentially generalizations, in various directions, of a result of \textit{F. Stoppelli} [Ric. Mat. 6, 241-287 (1957); ibid. 7, 71-101, 138-152 (1958; Zbl 0097.173)]. The choice of spaces for solutions and data which are suitable for a local treatment of problem (P) requires a study of problems of differentiability of operators of various types, and of isomorphism problems for a divergence type linear matrix differential operator, in Sobolev spaces and in Schauder spaces.