Analysis of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Mathematical Institute
Abstract
Partial differential equations (PDEs) are equations that relate the partial derivatives, usually with respect to space and time coordinates, of unknown quantities. They are ubiquitous in almost all applications of mathematics, where they provide a natural mathematical description of phenomena in the physical, natural and social sciences, often arising from fundamental conservation laws such as for mass, momentum and energy. Significant application areas include geophysics, the bio-sciences, engineering, materials science, physics and chemistry, economics and finance. Length-scales of natural phenomena modelled by PDEs range from sub-atomic to astronomical, and time-scales may range from nanoseconds to millennia. The behaviour of every material object can be modelled either by PDEs, usually at various different length- or time-scales, or by other equations for which similar techniques of analysis and computation apply. A striking example of such an object is Planet Earth itself.Linear PDEs are ones for which linear combinations of solutions are also solutions. For example, the linear wave equation models electromagnetic waves, which can be decomposed into sums of elementary waves of different frequencies, each of these elementary waves also being solutions. However, most of the PDEs that accurately model nature are nonlinear and, in general, there is no way of writing their solutions explicitly. Indeed, whether the equations have solutions, what their properties are, and how they may be computed numerically are difficult questions that can be approached only by methods of mathematical analysis. These involve, among other things, precisely specifying what is meant by a solution and the classes of functions in which solutions are sought, and establishing ways in which approximate solutions can be constructed which can be rigorously shown to converge to actual solutions. The analysis of nonlinear PDEs is thus a crucial ingredient in the understanding of the world about us.As recognized by the recent International Review of Mathematics, the analysis of nonlinear PDEs is an area of mathematics in which the UK, despite some notable experts, lags significantly behind our scientific competitors, both in quantity and overall quality. This has a serious detrimental effect on mathematics as a whole, on the scientific and other disciplines which depend on an understanding of PDEs, and on the knowledge-based economy, which in particular makes increasing use of simulations of PDEs instead of more costly or impractical alternatives such as laboratory testing.The proposal responds to the national need in this crucial research area through the formation of a forward-looking world-class research centre in Oxford, in order to provide a sharper focus for fundamental research in the field in the UK and raise the potential of its successful and durable impact within and outside mathematics. The centre will involve the whole UK research community having interests in nonlinear PDEs, for example through the formation of a national steering committee that will organize nationwide activities such as conferences and workshops.Oxford is an ideal location for such a research centre on account of an existing nucleus of high quality researchers in the field, and very strong research groups both in related areas of mathematics and across the range of disciplines that depend on the understanding of nonlinear PDEs. In addition, two-way knowledge transfer with industry will be achieved using the expertise and facilities of the internationally renowned mathematical modelling group based in OCIAM which, through successful Study Groups with Industry, has a track-record of forging strong links to numerous branches of science, industry, engineering and commerce. The university is committed to the formation of the centre and will provide a significant financial contribution, in particular upgrading one of the EPSRC-funded lectureships to a Chair
Publications
Knezevic D
(2009)
A heterogeneous alternating-direction method for a micro-macro dilute polymeric fluid model
in ESAIM: Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Analysis
Chen G
(2010)
A hyperbolic system of conservation laws for fluid flows through compliant axisymmetric vessels
in Acta Mathematica Scientia
Rindler F
(2014)
A local proof for the characterization of Young measures generated by sequences in BV
in Journal of Functional Analysis
Chrusciel P
(2011)
A lower bound for the mass of axisymmetric connected black hole data sets
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Makridakis C
(2011)
A priori error analysis of two force-based atomistic/continuum models of a periodic chain
in Numerische Mathematik
Ball J
(2015)
A probabilistic model for martensitic avalanches
in MATEC Web of Conferences
Gallagher I
(2012)
A profile decomposition approach to the $$L^\infty _t(L^{3}_x)$$ Navier-Stokes regularity criterion
in Mathematische Annalen
Niethammer B
(2010)
A rigorous derivation of mean-field models for diblock copolymer melts
in Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations
Chrusciel P
(2010)
A Uniqueness Theorem for Degenerate Kerr-Newman Black Holes
in Annales Henri Poincaré
Herrmann M
(2010)
Action Minimising Fronts in General FPU-type Chains
in Journal of Nonlinear Science
BURKE S
(2013)
AN ADAPTIVE FINITE ELEMENT APPROXIMATION OF A GENERALIZED AMBROSIO-TORTORELLI FUNCTIONAL
in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Burke S
(2010)
An Adaptive Finite Element Approximation of a Variational Model of Brittle Fracture
in SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
Luskin M
(2009)
An Analysis of Node-Based Cluster Summation Rules in the Quasicontinuum Method
in SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
Helfenstein J
(2022)
An approach for comparing agricultural development to societal visions.
in Agronomy for sustainable development
Mielke A
(2014)
An Approach to Nonlinear Viscoelasticity via Metric Gradient Flows
in SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis
Braides A
(2014)
An Example of Non-Existence of Plane-Like Minimizers for an Almost-Periodic Ising System
in Journal of Statistical Physics
Ball J
(2014)
An investigation of non-planar austenite-martensite interfaces
in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Bulícek M
(2014)
Analysis and approximation of a strain-limiting nonlinear elastic model
in Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids
Niethammer B
(2008)
Analysis and Stochastics of Growth Processes and Interface Models
Ortner C
(2008)
Analysis of a quasicontinuum method in one dimension
in ESAIM: Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Analysis
Hudson T
(2015)
Analysis of Stable Screw Dislocation Configurations in an Antiplane Lattice Model
in SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis
Braides A
(2016)
Asymptotic analysis of Lennard-Jones systems beyond the nearest-neighbour setting: A one-dimensional prototypical case
in Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids
Kirr E
(2009)
Asymptotic stability of ground states in 2D nonlinear Schrödinger equation including subcritical cases
in Journal of Differential Equations
Kirchheim B
(2011)
Automatic convexity of rank-1 convex functions
in Comptes Rendus Mathematique
Li Z
(2023)
Automatic search intervals for the smoothing parameter in penalized splines.
in Statistics and computing
Knezevic D
(2009)
BAIL 2008 - Boundary and Interior Layers
Dolzmann G
(2012)
BMO and uniform estimates for multi-well problems
in Manuscripta Mathematica
Kristensen J
(2010)
Boundary Regularity in Variational Problems
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Kristensen J
(2008)
Boundary regularity of minima
in Rendiconti Lincei - Matematica e Applicazioni
Chen G
(2019)
Cauchy Fluxes and Gauss-Green Formulas for Divergence-Measure Fields Over General Open Sets
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Kristensen J
(2010)
Characterization of Generalized Gradient Young Measures Generated by Sequences in W1,1 and BV
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Iyer G
(2012)
Coercivity and stability results for an extended Navier-Stokes system
in Journal of Mathematical Physics
Buffa A
(2008)
Compact embeddings of broken Sobolev spaces and applications
in IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis
Helmers M
(2014)
CONVERGENCE OF AN APPROXIMATION FOR ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC TWO-PHASE LIPID BILAYER MEMBRANES
in The Quarterly Journal of Mathematics
Chen G
(2020)
Convexity of Self-Similar Transonic Shocks and Free Boundaries for the Euler Equations for Potential Flow
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Dai S
(2010)
Crossover in coarsening rates for the monopole approximation of the Mullins-Sekerka model with kinetic drag
in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Section A Mathematics
Melcher C
(2008)
Direct approach to L p estimates in homogenization theory
in Annali di Matematica Pura ed Applicata
Kay D
(2009)
Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Approximation of the Cahn-Hilliard Equation with Convection
in SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
Ball J
(2015)
Discontinuous Order Parameters in Liquid Crystal Theories
in Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Antonietti P
(2009)
Domain Decomposition Methods in Science and Engineering XVIII
Menon G
(2010)
Dynamics and self-similarity in min-driven clustering
in Transactions of the American Mathematical Society
Kurzke M
(2009)
Dynamics for Ginzburg-Landau vortices under a mixed flow
in Indiana University Mathematics Journal
Ammari H
(2008)
Electrical Impedance Tomography by Elastic Deformation
in SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics
Paicu M
(2011)
Energy Dissipation and Regularity for a Coupled Navier-Stokes and Q-Tensor System
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Ammari H
(2010)
Enhanced Resolution in Structured Media
in SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics
Ball JM
(2013)
Entropy and convexity for nonlinear partial differential equations.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Varvaruca E
(2012)
Equivalence of weak formulations of the steady water waves equations.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Choi K
(2014)
Estimates on fractional higher derivatives of weak solutions for the Navier-Stokes equations
in Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincaré C, Analyse non linéaire
Alberti G
(2016)
Eulerian, Lagrangian and Broad continuous solutions to a balance law with non-convex flux I
in Journal of Differential Equations
| Description | This was a broad grant designed to help consolidate research on nonlinear partial differential equations in the UK. In particular the Oxford Centre for Nonlinear PDE was founded as a result of the grant and is now a leading international centre. As regards specific research advances, these were in various areas of applications of PDE, for example to fluid and solid mechnaics, liquid crystals, electromagnetism, and relativity. |
| Exploitation Route | Through publications and consultation with current and former members of OxPDE. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Construction,Electronics,Energy,Environment |
| URL | https://www0.maths.ox.ac.uk/groups/oxpde |
| Description | Advanced Investigator Grant |
| Amount | € 2,006,998 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 291053 |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 04/2012 |
| End | 03/2017 |