An existence result for a nonlinear transmission problems

Let $\Omega^o$ and $\Omega^i$ be open bounded subsets of $\mathbb{R}^n$ of class $C^{1,\alpha}$ such that the closure of $\Omega^i$ is contained in $\Omega^o$. Let $f^o$ be a function in $C^{1,\alpha}(\partial\Omega^o)$ and let $F$ and $G$ be continuous functions from $\partial\Omega^i\times\mathbb{R}$ to $\mathbb{R}$. By exploiting an argument based on potential theory and on the Leray-Schauder principle we show that under suitable and completely explicit conditions on $F$ and $G$ there exists at least one pair of continuous functions $(u^o, u^i)$ such that $$\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \Delta u^o=0&\text{in }\Omega^o\setminus\mathrm{cl}\Omega^i\,,\\ \Delta u^i=0&\text{in }\Omega^i\,,\\ u^o(x)=f^o(x)&\text{for all }x\in\partial\Omega^o\,,\\ u^o(x)=F(x,u^i(x))&\text{for all }x\in\partial\Omega^i\,,\\ \nu_{\Omega^i}\cdot\nabla u^o(x)-\nu_{\Omega^i}\cdot\nabla u^i(x)=G(x,u^i(x))&\text{for all }x\in\partial\Omega^i\,, \end{array} \right.$$ where the last equality is attained in certain weak sense. In a simple example we show that such a pair of functions $(u^o, u^i)$ is in general neither unique nor local unique. If instead the fourth condition of the problem is obtained by a small nonlinear perturbation of a homogeneous linear condition, then we can prove the existence of at least one classical solution which is in addition locally unique

Eigenfrequency correction of Bloch-Floquet waves in a thin periodic bi-material strip with cracks lying on perfect and imperfect interfaces

We analyse an asymptotic low-dimensional model of anti-plane shear in a thin bi-material strip containing a periodic array of interfacial cracks. Both ideal and non-ideal interfaces are considered. We find that the previously derived asymptotic models display a degree of inaccuracy in predicting standing wave eigenfrequencies and suggest an improvement to the asymptotic model to address this discrepancy. Computations demonstrate that the correction to the standing wave eigenfrequencies greatly improve the accuracy of the low-dimensional model

Frictionless Motion of Lattice Defects

Energy dissipation by fast crystalline defects takes place mainly through the resonant interaction of their cores with periodic lattice. We show that the resultant effective friction can be reduced to zero by appropriately tuned acoustic sources located on the boundary of the body. To illustrate the general idea, we consider three prototypical models describing the main types of strongly discrete defects: dislocations, cracks and domain walls. The obtained control protocols, ensuring dissipation-free mobility of topological defects, can be also used in the design of meta-material systems aimed at transmitting mechanical information