Free boundary problem

Résumé

In mathematics, a free boundary problem (FB problem) is a partial differential equation to be solved for both an unknown function u and an unknown domain \Omega. The segment \Gamma of the boundary of \Omega which is not known at the outset of the problem is the free boundary. FBs arise in various mathematical models encompassing applications that ranges from physical to economical, financial and biological phenomena, where there is an extra effect of the medium. This effect is in general a qualitative change of the medium and hence an appearance of a phase transition: ice to water, liquid to crystal, buying to selling (assets), active to inactive (biology), blue to red (coloring games), disorganized to organized (self-organizing criticality). An interesting aspect of such a criticality is the so-called sandpile dynamic (or Internal DLA). The most classical example is the melting of ice: Given a block of ice, one can solve the heat e

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_boundary_problem

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We address the free boundary problem that consists in finding the shape of a three dimensional glacier over a given period and under given climatic conditions. Glacier surface moves by sliding, internal shear and external exchange of mass. Ice is modelled as a non Newtonian fluid. Given the shape of the glacier, the velocity of ice is obtained by solving a stationary non-linear Stokes problem with a sliding law along the bedrock-ice interface. The shape of the glacier is updated by computing a Volume Of Fluid (VOF) function, which satisfies a transport equation. Climatic effects (accumulation and ablation of ice) are taken into account in the source term of this equation. A decoupling algorithm with a two-grid method allows the velocity of ice and the VOF to be computed using different numerical techniques, such that a Finite Element Method (FEM) and a characteristics method. On a theoretical level, we prove the well-posedness of the non-linear Stokes problem. A priori estimates for the convergence of the FEM are established by using a quasi-norm technique. Eventually, convergence of the linearisation schemes, such that a fixed point method and a Newton method, is proved. Several applications demonstrate the potential of the numerical method to simulate the motion of a glacier during a long period. The first one consists in the simulation of Rhone et Aletsch glacier from 1880 to 2100 by using climatic data provided by glaciologists. The glacier reconstructions over the last 120 years are validated against measurements. Afterwards, several different climatic scenarios are investigated in order to predict the shape the glaciers until 2100. A dramatic retreat during the 21st century is anticipated for both glaciers. The second application is an inverse problem. It aims to find a climate parametrization allowing a glacier to fit some of its moraines. Two other aspects of glaciology are also addressed in this thesis. The first one consists in modeling and in simulating ice collapse during the calving process. The previous ice flow model is supplemented by a Damage variable which describes the presence of micro crack in ice. An additional numerical scheme allows the Damage field to be solved and a two dimensional simulation of calving to be performed. The second problem aims to prove the existence of stationary ice sheet when considering shallow ice model and a simplified geometry. Numerical investigation confirms the theoretical result and shows physical properties of the solution.

EPFL2010

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We investigate the regularity of the free boundary for the Signorini problem in Rn+1. It is known that regular points are (n−1)-dimensional and C∞. However, even for C∞ obstacles φ, the set of non-regular (or degenerate) points could be very large—e.g. with infinite Hn−1 measure. The only two assumptions under which a nice structure result for degenerate points has been established are when φ is analytic, and when Δφ0. Finally, we construct some new examples of free boundaries with degenerate points.

2021

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On the stability of travelling waves with vorticity obtained by minimization

Boris Buffoni

We modify the approach of Burton and Toland Comm. Pure Appl. Math. LXIV. 975-1007 (2011) to show the existence of periodic surface water waves with vorticity in order that it becomes suited to a stability analysis. This is achieved by enlarging the function space to a class of stream functions that do not correspond necessarily to travelling profiles. In particular, for smooth profiles and smooth stream functions, the normal component of the velocity field at the free boundary is not required a priori to vanish in some Galilean coordinate system. Travelling periodic waves are obtained by a direct minimization of a functional that corresponds to the total energy and that is therefore preserved by the time-dependent evolutionary problem (this minimization appears in Comm. Pure Appl. Math. LXIV. 975-1007 2011 after a first maximization). In addition, we not only use the circulation along the upper boundary as a constraint, but also the total horizontal impulse (the velocity becoming a Lagrange multiplier). This allows us to preclude parallel flows by choosing appropriately the values of these two constraints and the sign of the vorticity. By stability, we mean conditional energetic stability of the set of minimizers as a whole, the perturbations being spatially periodic of given period. Our proofs depend on the assumption that the surface offers some resistance to stretching and bending.

Springer Basel2013

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EPFL2010