J.T.

Webster: Statement of Research

1

Outline and Structure of Statement

1
2
3
4

Outline of Statement
Mathematical Point of View
Some Models of Interest: 3.1 Nonlinear Flow-Structure Interations; 3.2 Nonlinear Plates
Description of Research: 4.1 Past and Present Work; 4.2 Planned Work

Sections 2 and 3 (two total pages) can be read as a general description of my research interests and
appropriate background material. Section 4 (five pages) gives detailed account of past, present, and
planned research. I have also included a list of pertinent references (the final pages).

Mathematical Point of View

My principal area of research interest is the analysis and control of evolution equations which describe
dynamic phenomena in physics and engineering (e.g., wave phenomena, dynamic elasticity, diffusion
processes). Such analysis involves studying the existence and uniqueness of solutions to nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs)specifically, initial boundary value problemsand their qualitative
properties. I am concerned with the control of such systems, namely, the utilization of a boundary or
interior feedback mechanism to drive the system to a desired state in finite time, or perhaps asymptotically. It is typical that a viable physical model, cast within an appropriate functional setting,
corresponds to a semigroup (or dynamical system). From this point of view, we extend the study of
the qualitative properties of solutions to differential equations into the realm of dynamical systems
theory. In nonlinear systems which are not necessarily asymptotically stable showing the existence
of a set which uniformly attracts all trajectories is desirable. We seek to demonstrate that a finite
dimensional, compact attractor exists for (initially) infinite dimensional dynamics. This indicates that
the ultimate character of the dynamics is finite dimensional, and that classical control theory may be
utilized (in a local sense). Demonstrating that a feedback mechanism provides an asymptotic compactifying effect on potentially non-smooth, unbounded dynamics is a preliminary step in the control
of a given nonlinear PDE model.
There are two other general considerations of personal interest: (1) the relationship between theoretical results and numerically predicted or physically observed properties of the dynamics. In the
study of PDE systems one first pursues Hadamard well-posedness (existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence upon initial data) of solutions. One then investigates the qualitative properties of
solutions. Theoretical results can be seen as predicative of the physical system and they can provide
scrutiny (or verification) of the model which is supposed to describe the real-world dynamics. These
inquiries into the validity and correspondence of models to physical phenomenon require active dialogues in the greater engineering and applied mathematics communities. (2) In studying specific classes
of evolution equations many abstract tools are developed and implemented. This is the case in both
numerical (approximate) and infinite dimensional studies. In working on physical PDE models we
utilize many existing mathematical tools, but I also seek to refine existing tools and to develop novel
methods of analysis. I want to continue developing abstract means which address existing models
and accommodate the analysis of new models (specifically, coupled dynamics [63, 64]) in the study of
well-posedness, control, and long-time behavior of solutions. (See, for instance, our semigroup analysis
from [31] described below, or the delay differential equations approach to flow-plate problems [29]).

Some Models of Interest

My interests and experience cover a broad class of hyperbolic, parabolic, mixed-type models, as well
as coupled dynamics. However, in this section and the sequel I focus on models with which I have
extensive experience.
Nonlinear Flow-Structure Interactions: Fluid-structure interactions (FSIs) are of immense research
interest across many fields. This class of models yields a vast array of challenging problems in the
1

theory of well-posedness of solutions and their qualitative properties, including long-time behavior.
Predictive and control studies of FSI models are invaluable in engineering.
One of the central issues in aeroelasticity concerns the onset of an endemic instability termed flutter
[6, 12, 41, 40]. Flutter is a self-sustaining phenomenon which results when the elastic modes of the
structure couple with the aerodynamic load of the flow. To model this situation, we consider a thin,
flexible plate {x R3 : z = 0} sitting in R3 with an over-body potential flow in the x-direction
of velocity U (U = 1 taken as the speed of sound). The scalar function u models the transverse
displacement of the central plane of the plate. The scalar models the velocity potential of the flow.


2 u + b(u ) + f (u) = p + ( + U )

in
(1

)u
+

x,y
tt
t
0
t
x
x,y

Boundary Conditions(u), u(t = 0) = u , u (t = 0) = u on

0
t
1
(3.1)
2
3
(t + U x ) = x,y,z in R+

 = 1 (x)( + U )u on R2 , (t = 0) = , (t = 0) =
t
x
0
t
1
z R2

The above system is referred to as a flow-plate interaction (FPI) and has been studied in the mathematical literature for over 20 years [15, 21, 25] (and references therein). We consider many physical
boundary conditions for the plate, including: clamped, hinged, or free, or various combinations thereof.
The term 0 represents rotational inertia in the filaments on the plate, and p0 is static pressure
on the surface of the plate. The primary dissipation mechanisms in the model are: (1) nonlinear
boundary damping in the simply-supported case, and (2) viscous interior damping on the surface of
the plate, represented by the non-decreasing function b(). The nonlinear terms f of interest (owing to
the fundamentally nonlinear nature of the flutter phenomena) are those arising in the theory of large
deflections and are discussed below.
The central parameters in the analysis are and U . First, is critical in that = 0 is the primary
model of physical interest, yet the nonlinearities (dictated by physics) are no longer of a compact
natureessential to well-posedness and long-time behavior analysis. It is also clear that in the case
U > 1 there is a loss of spatial ellipticity of the principal part of the flow operator t2 + U 2 x2 . The
mathematical models associated to the FSI phenomena above (and described below) are dictated by the
physics of the problem and do not yield straightforward functional setups. The key problems concern
the mismatch of regularity at the interface between two interacting dynamics, and the physically
required presence of unbounded or ill-defined terms (boundary traces in coupling conditions). As such,
the PDE approach to these problem has only come about only recently with the advent of modern
abstract tools in coupled dynamics and results in the regularity theory for hyperbolic dynamics.1
3.1 Nonlinear Plates
The PDE study of nonlinear plates has attracted great attention over the last 40 years. Dynamics
of interest include the full von Karman shell equations (which account for in-plane and transversal
dynamics), the scalar von Karman equations, and Bergers plate equation. We focus on the scalar
equations which model the deflection of the central plane of the plate, leading to the system described
by the first two lines of (3.1).
Von Karman nonlinearity: Take fV (u) = [v(u) + F0 , u], where the bracket is given by the second

order form [a, b] = axx byy + ayy bxx 2axy bxy , F0 represents in-plane loading, and v(u) is the so
called Airy stress function which solves 2 v + [u, u] = 0 in ; v = v = 0 on . The structure
of fV is nonlocal, owing to the presence of v(u). Additionally, fV is of cubic type in H 2 (). Wellposedness and long-time behavior investigations for von Karman plates have been discussed extensively
in recent years, and are of great interest in the PDE literature [25] (and references therein). The key
breakthrough in the modern study of von Karman equations came in establishing sharp estimates
0 (). This leads to the so called
on the von Karman bracket from H 2 () into the Lizorkin space F1,2
1

Much of this work was funded by NASA through a Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship from
2011-2013.

sharp regularity of the Airy stress functionwhich is critical for well-posedness of the nonlinear plate
equation.
Berger nonlinearity: The Berger nonlinearity is arrived at via the von Karman system by neglecting

the second strain invariant in the variational calculus. This greatly simplifies the structure of the
nonlinearity, and in most cases does so without greatly affecting the accuracy of the model [7, 76]. We
have fB (u) = (1 2 ||u||2L2 () )u. Again the nonlinearity is nonlocal and of polynomial type on
the energy space.

Description of Research

4.1 Past and Present Work

In this section I discuss selected results which have been previously obtained, as well as work which is
presently being undertaken.
Well-Posedness of FPIs: The finite energy analysis dictates the natural requirements of the so-

lutions u and : for clamped plates (panels), we have u C(0, T ; H02 ()) C 1 (0, T ; L2 ());
C(0, T ; H 1 (R3+ )) C 1 (0, T ; L2 (R3+ )). Utilizing Galerkin procedures, along with a priori bounds on
the plate component of the solution, well-posedness of the flow-plate system in (3.1) was known in
the case of (1) subsonic flows with 0 [25, 27]; (2) all flow velocities, with > 0 [15]; or (3) all
flow velocities, with = 0, and thermal effects accounted for in the plate [79]. (Adding a thermal
component has the same effectparabolic smoothing of ut as taking > 0.) Although the model
has been analyzed by various authors for over 20 years, well-posedness of the principal case ( = 0
and U > 1) was open until two years ago (see our analysis [31]). However, with the successful use
of semigroup techniques in the case 0 U < 1 with = 0 [88], we attempted to find an abstract
framework for well-posedness. The breakthrough came from a formal analysis of the flow energies.
The equation (t + U x )2 = is simply a perturbed wave equation when U [0, 1); yet, when
U > 1 the strong ellipticity of the principal spatial operator degenerates, and associated hyperbolic
energies Ef low (t) = ||t ||2 + ||||2 U 2 ||x ||2 become non-positive. In light of this, we consider a
(physically motivated) change of state variable, taking our dynamic state to be the acceleration potential (t + U x ), and yielding a kinetic energy of the form ||t + U x ||2 . With a viable energy, we
decouple the dynamics into a dissipative piece and a perturbation. The dissipative component is handled via the theory developed in the subsonicR case. However, the remaining
obstacle to well-posedness


t
is the perturbation term, given by P (t) s ux (t), tr[t + U x ] L2 (R2 ) . A priori, this term is not
defined (as t L2 (R3 ) only). The term P (t) can be interpreted via duality if the ill-defined trace
tr[t ] resides in some dual Sobolev space. The primary inspiration comes from hyperbolic theory,
wherein traces behave better than the standard
theory predicts [71]. A microlocal analysis argument


1/2
2
shows that tr[t ] L2 0, T ; H
(R ) , which provides a bound on P (t) by the energy [31]. Then,
via the Duhamel formula, we bring the problem into the context of abstract boundary control (and
extrapolated semigroups) [64]. A fixed-point argument (along with Balls argument [27]) leads to
semigroup well-posedness. This recent resolution of the well-posedness then opened up the study of
the flow-plate model (in all physical cases) to control and long-time behavior studies, which will be
addressed below.
Our next step was to obtain well-posedness and show boundedness of the semigroup in the presence
of a feedback on the plate acting via a hinged-type condition: u = 0, u = G( ut ) on , where
G is a continuous, real-valued, monotone function. Utilizing monotone operator methods this result
was shown in [65], as well as a proof of strong convergence of the nonlinear dynamics in a viscosity
type limit & 0.
Kutta-Joukowsky Flow Conditions: A numerically and experimentally exciting area of investigation
is that of flow-structure interactions with axial flow [6]. These investigations involve long, slender
bodies with a clamped leading edge and a free trailing edge, immersed in fluid flows along the axial
coordinate. In this configuration, limit cycles can be observed at low flow velocities [6]. This configuration has applications in piezoelectric energy harvesting [44], aeroelasticity, and the flutter of the

human soft palate (i.e., snoring and sleep apnea) [1].

To extend the FSI model above, in the third line of (3.1) we replace the Neumann type boundary
conditions with a Kutta-Joukowsky (KJ) type boundary condition written in terms of the acceleration
potential of the flow (t + U x ): z = (t + U x )u on ; = 0 on R2 \ . The flow
boundary conditions are mixed in nature, but allow for the modeling of flag or flap configurations of
immense recent interest [49] (and references therein). In the case of a free-clamped plate it is not
clear what nonlinearity pertains to the structure [77], nor whether the linearized potential theory is
adequate to describe the flow. (It is though that this situation can be modeled similarly to that
of thin pipes conveying fluid [77]). Though preliminary analysis indicates that free plate boundary
conditions are more compatible with the KJ flow conditions, technical difficulties include: (1) the need
for elliptic regularity results for mixed boundary conditions, and (2) the ability to define suitable,
regular approximants (near the boundary) which allow for limit passage in dissipativity, maximality,
and multiplier calculations.
We recently studied the KJ flow condition coupled with a clamped plate in order to develop a
suitable abstract theory (for this simplified model). The resulting papers [30, 66] give well-posedness
of this FPI. The regularity properties of the dynamic flow-to-Neumann map are critical in allowing
techniques from abstract boundary control, and are determined from the Zaremba elliptic problem [81].
To utilize the abstract analysis from (3.1) above, a flow trace regularity result must be established, and
this hinges upon the invertibility of an operator which is analogous (in two dimensions) to the finite
Hilbert transform [6]. Hence, the well-posedness of this FPI with KJ conditions heavily depends upon
the theory of singular integrals, and, in particular, the so called Possio airfoil equation [6] (addressed
classically by Tricomi).
Long-Time Behavior of FPIs: With semigroup well-posedness established for the nonlinear FPI,

the natural question of long-time behavior of the dynamical system arises. In particular, qualitative
properties of the system can be viewed along-side the experimental and numerical results for the model
in (3.1) [12, 40, 41]. We seek to show that the structural dynamics stabilize to a global attractor (an
invariant set which uniformly attracts all bounded sets under the dynamics [25]). Unlike parabolic
dynamics, we do not have a priori reason to expect that hyperbolic-like, non-smooth dynamics can
be asymptotically reduced to smooth and truly finite dimensional dynamics. Indeed, owing to the
unboundedness of the flow domain there is no reason to expect results on compact end-behavior of
trajectories. On the other hand we have physical insight that the flow can provide stabilizing effects
on the structure for certain flow velocities. Additionally, a heuristic method for studying systems in
aeroelasticity involves writing the flow dynamics as a reduced, delay potential on the RHS of the flow
equation. This approach, based on the Kirchoff formula, was later made rigorous in [21] under the
physical assumption that the flow data is compactly supported. This brings the study of FPIs into
the realm of PDE with delay. We state this critical reduction now:
Theorem 4.1 (Chueshov, 92). Let U 6= 1, = 0, with any standard plate boundary conditions. Take
(u0 , u1 ; 0 , 1 ) Y , and assume there exists an R such that 0 (x) = 1 (x) = 0 for |x| > R. Then
the there exists a time t# (R, U, ) > 0 such that for all t > t# any energy type solution u(t) to the
corresponding FPI satisfies the equation: utt + 2 u + k(ut ) + f (u) = p0 (t + U x )u q u (t) with
Z t Z 2
1
q u (t) =
ds
d[M2 u
b](x (U + sin )s, y s cos , t s). Here, u
b is the extension of u by 0
2 0
0
outside of ; M = sin x +cos y and t = inf{t : x(U, , s)
/ for all x , [0, 2], and s >
2
t} with x(U, , s) = (x (U + sin )s, y s cos ) R .
By utilizing the reduction result above the flow contributes three terms to the RHS of the plate: we note
that, in the absence of imposed damping mechanisms, we can view the term ut as a form of structural
damping inherited from the flow; U ux is a nondissipative term, and q u is the delay potential. In
[29], we demonstrate a hidden compactness property for q u to affirm that the natural damping yields
a compact attractor A for the plate dynamics. The proof requires modern tools in the theory of
4

nonlinear plates, including compensated compactness techniques in the asymptotic smoothness theory
for the dynamics [25], as well as the construction of suitable Lyapunov-type function (on the delayed
state space) to show that the dynamical system has a global absorbing set. Finally, quasistability
techniques [25, 26] on the global attractor are utilized to show finite dimensionality and additional
regularity of A. We emphasize that we obtain asymptotically compact behavior of the plate dynamics
without imposed damping mechanisms by harvesting a natural damping obtained from the flow.
The results listed above for attractors in (3.1) make critical use of Theorem 4.1. However, in
utilizing this result, we destroy the gradient structure of the system. In the discussion above our
final results on long-time behavior of the flow-plate interaction provide a global compact attractor for
the plate dynamics without any explicit mechanical damping. One can pose a physically motivated
question: in the presence of very weak damping, can this result be improved? If we are in the subsonic
case, U [0, 1), and impose linear, interior damping in the plate model, we are currently working to
show that trajectories for the entire system (plate and flow) stabilize to equilibria points of the full
system (3.1). The proof is based on having good energy relation for the whole system, which leads
to finiteness of the dissipation integral and, ultimately, the ability to show that the resulting point of
convergence satisfies the stationary problem associated to (3.1). This indicates that the end behavior
of the subsonic evolution is in fact static. Such a result is particularly exciting because it corroborates
physical (e.g., wind-tunnel) findings; namely, in the subsonic case, panels are known to have static
limiting behavior [40] (buckling or divergence). The subsonic nature of the flow is used critically in
such an argument (as a viable energy identity is needed). Physically, limit cycle oscillations or chaotic
behavior in the structure can occur for supersonic velocities (U > 1).
Nonlinear Plates with Geometrically Constrained Interior Damping: Motivated by the complica-

tions of boundary damping utilized in certain plate configurations, we have considered nonlinear interior damping, localized near the the boundary of the plate. Localized interior damping, here referred to
as geometrically constrained interior damping (GCID), takes the form of a feedback of the structural
velocity, supported in a prescribed subset of the elastic domain. We consider GCID to be supported in
an open collar of the boundary of . Consider the plate equation utt + d(x)g(ut ) + 2 u + f (u) = p0
with given initial and boundary conditions. Then the function d(x) L () is a localizing function
which dictates the region of active damping.
GCID has been utilized for hyperbolic models, and has produced a bounty of results for the wave
equation, including stability with decay rates (linear case) [75] and convergence to attracting sets
(nonlinear case) [28]. However no analyses were available in the context of plate theory. Thus, a
first step was to consider the von Karman plate alone with GCID. Although successfully implemented
in wave models, the effectiveness of GCID is contingent upon the propagation of dissipation from
the boundary layer throughout the interior of the structure. This is difficult to show via energy
methods, and the use of high order multipliers is required to control the total energy. Additionally,
this propagation depends upon a unique continuation (UC) property, which requires that the nonlinear
dynamics interact with the damping region in a desirable way:
Definition 4.2 (UC Property). We say that a plate system satisfies the U C property iff the following
implication is valid for any weak solution (u, ut ): there exists T > 0 such that ut = 0 a.e in supp d
(0, T ) ut = 0 a.e in (0, T ).
GCID can be more demanding to implement than fully-supported interior damping, since energy
methods introduce commutator terms which must be controlled (at the energy level) to recover the
energy in an observability type estimate. In [46] we show that the fully nonlinear damping with
essential support in an arbitrarily small layer near the boundary provides not only the existence
of compact attractors, but also desirable properties such as C smoothness of solutions and finite
dimensionality of the attractor. This result is valid for all types of boundary conditions (including the
third order free plate boundary conditions which do not comply with the Lopatinski conditions [80]).
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In [46] the energy analysis requires the localized multipliers (x)u and h ((x)u), where the vector
field h = x x0 (x0 suitably chosen) and and are C () localizing functions.
An additional question of interest is whether individual trajectories stabilize to a specific equilibrium points. Showing a uniform convergence to an equilibrium in the case of multiple equilibria in PDE
systems is rather subtle. The problem at hand is the inherent instability near the equilibria, where a
trajectory entering an arbitrarily small neighborhood of an equilibrium may have a change of heart
and begin converging to another point in the attractor. Thus, it is essential to control the behavior
in such a neighborhood via hard estimates. In [47] we produce decay rates to equilibrium for plate
solutions with both fB and fV . Moreover, we derive the rate of convergence of solutions to equilibria
points as a function of the degeneracy of the damping at the origin. The primary contribution of the
analysis in [47] is to demonstrate that the dynamics of the Berger evolution with damping active in
an open collar of the boundary possess a gradient structure; this involves showing that the UC property holds for the Berger evolution. The proof depends heavily on the applicability of Carlemanns
estimates developed for analysis of a similar unique continuation problem [56]. (We note that in the
case of fV , unique continuationas described aboveis a rather difficult open problem [25].)
Berger Plates: Although a systematic study of von Karman plates with interior and boundary damp-

ing was undertaken over the last 20 years (and presented in the recent monograph [25]) many open
issues remain for the Berger plate. There are many interesting issues in comparing mathematical properties of the two nonlinear models, as well as their physical applicability. In the engineering literature
it is not clear under which circumstances the Berger ad hoc simplification of von Karmans dynamics
is valid [7, 76]. We have pursued a novel line of investigation of the Berger plate with inhomogeneous
boundary conditions. In the case of free boundary conditions, well-posedness requires nonlinear damping on the boundary which is not necessary in the analogous von Karman case; this seems to indicate
the breakdown of the Berger model in this configuration. Although well-posedness of this model has
been shown, it is not yet clear whether highly nonlinear damping is sufficient to obtain any form of
dissipativity of the dynamical system associated with solutions. This provides us with insight (at the
level of the equations) that the Berger model is not a valid simplification of the von Karman model
in the case of free boundary conditions.
Full von Karman Equations: The full von Karman equations [57, 62] are a nonlinear set of vectorial

equations which describe the nonlinear coupled dynamics of in-plane and transverse motions of a thin
shell. Use of these equations presents an additional degree of accuracy and generality in modeling,
and FSI considerations are dramatically improved via the utilization of this model. It is worth noting
that when the Airy stress function is not available we retain the local character of the nonlinearity,
which is advantageous. Yet, in the scalar case (Airy function present) many deep, recent results are
known from the theory of Besov spaces which demonstrate that the von Karman nonlinearity is locally
Lipschitz on the energy space; in the case of the full von Karman equations, the nonlinear effects do not
enjoy this property. As such, existence and uniqueness of energy type solutions is a nontrivial issue.
There are well-posedness results available, however, these results depend heavily on the presence of
the regularizing rotational inertia term. In the primary case of physical interest ( = 0), uniqueness of
weak solutions is at issue [57]. In considering the more general class of flow-structure models described
as axial flow above the full von Karman equations may be necessary to account for the highly nonlinear,
in-plane/transverse coupled dynamics. We have begun investigations from the point of view of weak
attractors [85]. In this case, without uniqueness of energy solutions, we may still ask the question:
Can viscous dissipation from the flow, in the absence of mechanical damping, stabilize the plate
dynamics to an attractor? The results in [33] (and references therein) indicate that, in many cases,
fluid dissipation is sufficient to stabilize the structure (in some sense).
4.2 Planned Work
I now briefly describe the new directions for my research in the immediate future.
(1) My work in mathematical elasticity has found me reading within the engineering literature. This
6

has been very fruitful, as I have come across new PDE models of great interest (e.g., generalized Berger
models [7], transonic flow-plate models [40], and generalized piston theory [12, 42]). In my dialogue
with experts in the field of aeroelasticity, I have confirmed that the nonlinear models above are of great
interest and are wide open from the point of view of PDE and numerical analysis. Additionally, the
transonic and piston models referenced above provide challenging mathematical structures for which
new theory must be developed for well-posedness and control analysis.
(2) I have spent a great deal of time exploring more general fluid-structure models (see the discussion
in [30]), from which the flow-plate model described above in (3.1) can be derived, as well as those in
[33]. These models include compressible and incompressible fluids (viscous or inviscid) coupled (in
various ways) to nonlinear shells [33]. Such FSI models may describe the flow of blood through a large
artery, liquid sloshing in a flexible tank [52], hemodynamics, or submarine locomotion [18].
In many cases, proving well-posedness of finite energy solutions to these models is very difficult;
moreover, the dynamics tend to lack inherent compactness. A unifying component of these analyses
is the assumption that the deformations of the structure are small with respect to the volume of
the fluid, and hence the fluid-structure interface is assumed to be static. This is in contrast to
recent investigations [54] (following the seminal investigation [36]) which deal with the so called free
boundary problem, wherein the dynamical interface is determined by the two sets of equations, as well
as interface conditions. A free boundary contributes an entirely new set of difficulties. The three
dimensional model describes the interaction of an elastic solid oscillating and moving throughout a
viscous fluid [36, 54, 69]. The mathematical model comprises the full Navier-Stokes equations coupled
with a system of linear elasticity [54]. Because of the free boundary interaction, this problem is
necessarily cast in the Lagrangian framework:
(
vti + j (ajl akl k v i ) + k (aki q) = 0
i
i, j, k, l = 1, 2, 3; wtt
+ D(wti ) wi = 0, i = 1, 2, 3,
k
i
ai k v = 0
where v and q are (respectively) the Lagrangian velocity field and pressure of the fluid, and w is the
displacement of the solid. The coefficients aji are determined from the position function and the natural
displacement and stress matching conditions are taken at the interface. The term D(wt ) represents
mechanical damping in the solid.
The free boundary leads to a quasilinear system, with no natural dissipation in the structural
equation. The fundamental questions of interest are the well-posedness and stability of solutions to
this FSI model. Mathematical difficulties arise because of (a) the nonlinear nature of the problem, and
(b) the mismatching parabolic (fluid) component and hyperbolic (structural) component. There is no
obvious functional framework for this FSI, and regularity issues corresponding to the moving interface
become critical and necessitate the use of high regularity solutions and technical trace results. Recent
studies [54] indicate local-in-time well-posedness for all initial data (without interior damping), and
the addition of fully-supported linear damping in the structure (D(wt ) = k wt ) yields global-in-time
well-posedness with exponential decay rates for sufficiently small data. We hope to investigate the
utility of interior damping, localized to an open collar of the boundary. To obtain these results, the
use of technical multiplier methods will again be necessarynamely, the use of the flux multiplier
[62, 64], as utilized in boundary control and our studies of GCID in plates [46, 47].
(3) Recently, I have attempted to incorporate a numerical point of view into my work by discussing
finite element techniques as applied to non-dissipative von Karman plates with my colleague D.
Toundykov of University of Nebraska Lincoln. Additionally, while at Oregon State I have established a dialogue with the numerical research group and generated multiple lines of inquiry for the
flow-plate problems discussed above concerning convergence and possible bifurcation of the dynamics
in viscosity type limits for inertial and flow parameters ( and U resp. in (3.1)). A specific problem
of interest involves the study of (3.1) viewed as a plate equation with delay [25, 29]. Well-posedness
7

of this model has been established, as well as the existence of compact global attractors for such
dynamics. Studying this delay system for sufficiently large flow velocities U falls within the realm of
so called piston theory [12], but to our knowledge no numerical studies have been conducted which
reconcile the delayed dynamics with the plate dynamics given in piston theory.
(4) At OSU I have had the opportunity to work with R. Showalter, who is an expert in the field of
porous media, and has spent many years working on abstract and numerical approaches (along with
M. Peszynska) to porous media models [83]. We have recently begun working together on a class of
problems arising in poroelasticity. Specifically, we aim to produce a viable model (and corresponding
PDE and numerical analysis) for the dynamic elastic properties of a saturated porous media as methane
hydrates form in the solid. This is an open problem with applications to the dynamics of the seabed
in regions where methane hydrates are present in solution as well as solid; this work builds on the
very recent abstract and numerical analysis of a nonlinear evolution modeling the phase transitions of
methane hydrates [48]. Models involving the formation (or the prediction of formation) of methane
hydrates are of great recent interest for various reasons, some of which include: the harvesting of
natural gas, global climate change, and stability concerns in ocean floor drilling.
(5) I have recently begun to discuss modeling issues associated to highly nonlinear coupled flowplate systems (such as those associated to the axial flow discussed above) with R. Smith of North
Carolina State University. A viable model is required in order for PDE and control analysis to be
performed; conversely, if a model is proposed, well-posedness and numerical analysis can provide an
assessment of the model. This presents a wide open area of collaboration: we have a highly nonlinear
dynamics, exhibiting hysteretic effects (near U = 1, the transonic barrier), for which experimental
data is available, and no well-posedness or control techniques have been established. The hope is
to begin addressing aspects of the problem in the near future, including numerical methods and
possibly uncertainty quantification. We will begin by considering a flow-beam model (similar to the
linear aerodynamics studied in [6]) which utilizes the KJ conditions listed above (dynamic, mixed flow
boundary conditions), and incorporates structural nonlinearities akin to those arising in thin pipes
conveying fluids [77].

Future Research Goals

I would like to conclude with a few remarks on my long-term career goals. First, I hope to continue to
cultivate cross disciplinary relationships and collaborations. Among applied mathematicians I believe
there is much to be gained from active discourse with engineers. My contacts (E. DowellDuke, and
A.V. BalakrishnanUCLA) have been extremely helpful in discussions of mathematical modeling.
Establishing relationships with experimentalists and engineers provides a mathematician with access
to new models of interest, experimental data, heuristics about dynamics, and a chance to reconcile
mathematical results with physical findings. I hope that I will be able to cultivate such relationships
with those working in nonlinear (aero)elasticity, outside of the immediate mathematical community,
both at my home institution and in the greater academic community.
As I continue my work on nonlinear elasticity, I want to enrich and refine my own knowledge of
modeling considerations, especially with respect to FSIs. This goal pertains to the acquisition of a
more fundamental understanding of biological and aeroelastic phenomena associated to the dynamical
equations of motion for solids and fluids. Such studies will complement my mathematical study of the
effect of boundary conditions, parameters, and nonlinearities in FSIs. None of these aspirations would
be possible without improving my knowledge of numerical techniques which supplement control and
well-posedness studies of evolutions.
On the long-term horizon I hope to delve into the study of inverse problems in PDE, and stochastic
extensions to PDE models [37]. There is a deep connection between control of PDE and inverse
problems associated to coefficient recovery (particularly in hyperbolic dynamics). This connection
manifests itself through observability type inequalities which are critical in either study. At OSU I
was fortunate to participate in an analysis seminar where experts in inverse problems spoke regularly
8

on the various topics from the field. With respect to stochastic models, I hope to utilize my non-trivial
training in probability and stochastic differential equations to work in the exciting confluence between
probability and PDE. I believe this to be one of the most aesthetic intersections in mathematics.

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