On a class of damped vibration problems with obstacles (Q984585)

The aim is to study the existence and multiplicity of non-negative periodic solutions of the scalar second order equation \[ -\ddot x=g(t)\dot x+f(t,x) \] with an elastic bouncing condition at the origin. When \(g(t)\equiv 0\), this problem has been considered by many authors. Here, the use of a variational approach developed in [\textit{M.-Y. Jiang}, Nonlinearity 19, No.~5, 1165--1183 (2006; Zbl 1121.34047)] requires the essential condition \(\int_0^{2\pi} g(t)\,dt=0\) in order to preserve the variational structure. Hence, the reference to ``damped vibration'' in the title must be understood in the mathematical sense (the term \(g(t)\dot x\) is added), although from a physical point of view no dissipation of energy is present.