Abstract

In this talk we will discuss the asymptotic behaviour of the equilibrium configurations of a thin elastic plate, as the thickness h of the plate tends to zero. More precisely, we show that critical points of the nonlinear elastic functional, whose energies per unit thickness are of order h4, converge to critical points of the von Karman functional. This is proved assuming a growth condition on the elastic energy density W which is compatible with the physical requirement of blow-up of W(F) as the determinant of F tends to 0.

This is a joint work with Lucia Scardia (Max-Planck Institute, Leipzig).

TUESDAY, November 25, 2008
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Location: PPB 300