This paper re-examines the problem of the flow of a fluid of finite depth over two Gaussian-shaped obstructions on the stream bed. A weakly nonlinear analysis in the form of the Korteweg–de Vries equation is used to compare with the results of the fully nonlinear problem. The main focus is to find waveless subcritical solutions, and contours showing the obstruction height and separation values that result in waveless solutions are found for different Froude numbers and different obstruction widths.

We examine a problem in which a line sink causes a disturbance to an otherwise uniform flowing stream of infinite depth. We consider the fully non-linear problem with the inclusion of surface tension and find the maximum sink strength at which steady solutions exist for a given stream flow, before examining non-unique solutions. The addition of surface tension allows for a more thorough investigation into the characteristics of the solutions. The breakdown of steady solutions with surface tension appears to be caused by a curvature singularity as the flow rate approaches the maximum. The non-uniqueness in solutions is shown to occur for a range of parameter values in all cases with non-zero surface tension.

In this paper, we consider the time decay of the solutions to some problems arising in strain gradient thermoelasticity. We restrict to the two-dimensional case, and we assume that two dissipative mechanisms are introduced, the temperature and the mass dissipation. First, we show that this problem is well-posed proving that the operator defining it generates a contractive semigroup of linear operators. Then, assuming that the function involving the coupling terms is elliptic, the exponential decay of the solutions is concluded as well as the analyticity of the solutions. Finally, we describe how to obtain the exponential stability in the case of hyperbolic dissipation.

A minimization problem for partially wetting droplet profiles is considered, in which Van der Waal's forces have been taken into account via a singular ‘disjoining pressure’. When the singular disjoining pressure is neglected, energy minimization leads to Laplace's equation and Young's equation; once the singular disjoining pressure is included, this is no longer the case. Indeed, the free energy is no longer bounded from below. Introducing the notion of overtaking to compare the energies of configurations whose energies are arbitrarily large and negative, we demonstrate that if a configuration is not convex then it cannot be an absolute minimizer. If profiles are allowed to ‘double-over’ then there does not exist an absolute minimizer. Within the class of profiles which do not double-over, absolute minimizers are shown to exist; these minimizing profiles are not single-valued. The singular minimization problem is shown to be discontinuously dependent on the definition of the wetting profile in the neighbourhood of the contact points; the implications of this discontinuity are discussed.

The selection of Saffman–Taylor fingers by surface tension has been extensively investigated. In this paper, we are concerned with the existence and selection of steadily translating symmetric finger solutions in a Hele–Shaw cell by small but non-zero kinetic undercooling (ε2). We rigorously conclude that for relative finger width λ near one half, symmetric finger solutions exist in the asymptotic limit of undercooling ε2 → 0 if the Stokes multiplier for a relatively simple non-linear differential equation is zero. This Stokes multiplier S depends on the parameter $\alpha \equiv \frac{2 \lambda -1}{(1-\lambda)}\epsilon^{-\frac{4}{3}}$ and earlier calculations have shown this to be zero for a discrete set of values of α. While this result is similar to that obtained previously for Saffman–Taylor fingers by surface tension, the analysis for the problem with kinetic undercooling exhibits a number of subtleties as pointed out by Chapman and King (2003, The selection of Saffman–Taylor fingers by kinetic undercooling, Journal of Engineering Mathematics, 46, 1–32). The main subtlety is the behaviour of the Stokes lines at the finger tip, where the analysis is complicated by non-analyticity of coefficients in the governing equation.

Typical problems with solutions characterised by first-kind discontinuities occurring at interfaces of layered inhomogeneous media are considered with respect to second-order differential equations in partial derivatives. Direct, inverse and mixed types of solution discontinuities are considered. Presented are generalised formulations of problems under consideration, having discontinuous solutions and allowing a uniform description of the processes of heat, mass and charge transfer in multilayer media. Homogeneous difference schemes built on the basis of generalised solutions, which are illustrated by test problems with analytical solutions, are given.

In this paper, we extend and complement previous works about propagation in kinetic reaction–transport equations. The model we study describes particles moving according to a velocity-jump process, and proliferating according to a reaction term of monostable type. We focus on the case of bounded velocities, having dimension higher than one. We extend previous results obtained by the first author with Calvez and Nadin in dimension one. We study the large time/large-scale hyperbolic limit via an Hamilton–Jacobi framework together with the half-relaxed limits method. We deduce spreading results and the existence of travelling wave solutions. A crucial difference with the mono-dimensional case is the resolution of the spectral problem at the edge of the front, that yields potential singular velocity distributions. As a consequence, the minimal speed of propagation may not be determined by a first-order condition.

Critical transitions (or tipping points) are drastic sudden changes observed in many dynamical systems. Large classes of critical transitions are associated with systems, which drift slowly towards a bifurcation point. In the context of stochastic ordinary differential equations, there are results on growth of variance and autocorrelation before a transition, which can be used as possible warning signs in applications. A similar theory has recently been developed in the simplest setting for stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) for self-adjoint operators in the drift term. This setting leads to real discrete spectrum and growth of the covariance operator via a certain scaling law. In this paper, we develop this theory substantially further. We cover the cases of complex eigenvalues, degenerate eigenvalues as well as continuous spectrum. This provides a fairly comprehensive theory for most practical applications of warning signs for SPDE bifurcations.

We consider the two-dimensional Rayleigh–Taylor problem for the dynamics of the free interface Γ between two layers of immiscible viscous liquids. For a slow flow model (which corresponds to the case of a small relative jump of density) and under sufficiently wide assumptions on the geometry of Γ, we analyze the time dynamics of Γ. In particular, we prove that its increase in time t is bounded by an exponential function with exponent independent of Γ.

We consider phase transition processes in which the thermodynamic variables are the temperature and an order parameter. Various classes are identified and many specific examples are illustrated. In this framework the question of the range of applicability of the so-called ‘additivity rules’ is investigated, showing that they apply only to a very special type of processes.

The work in this paper concerns the study of different approximations for one-dimensional one-phase Stefan-like problems with a space-dependent latent heat. It is considered two different problems, which differ from each other in their boundary condition imposed at the fixed face: Dirichlet and Robin conditions. The approximate solutions are obtained by applying the heat balance integral method (HBIM), the modified HBIM and the refined integral method (RIM). Taking advantage of the exact analytical solutions, we compare and test the accuracy of the approximate solutions. The analysis is carried out using the dimensionless generalised Stefan number (Ste) and Biot number (Bi). It is also studied the case when Bi goes to infinity in the problem with a convective condition, recovering the approximate solutions when a temperature condition is imposed at the fixed face. Some numerical simulations are provided in order to assert which of the approximate integral methods turns out to be optimal. Moreover, we pose an approximate technique based on minimising the least-squares error, obtaining also approximate solutions for the classical Stefan problem.

Residential burglary is a social problem in every major urban area. As such, progress has been to develop quantitative, informative and applicable models for this type of crime: (1) the Deterministic-time-step (DTS) model [Short, D’Orsogna, Pasour, Tita, Brantingham, Bertozzi & Chayes (2008) Math. Models Methods Appl. Sci.18, 1249–1267], a pioneering agent-based statistical model of residential burglary criminal behaviour, with deterministic time steps assumed for arrivals of events in which the residential burglary aggregate pattern formation is quantitatively studied for the first time; (2) the SSRB model (agent-based stochastic-statistical model of residential burglary crime) [Wang, Zhang, Bertozzi & Short (2019) Active Particles, Vol. 2, Springer Nature Switzerland AG, in press], in which the stochastic component of the model is theoretically analysed by introduction of a Poisson clock with time steps turned into exponentially distributed random variables. To incorporate independence of agents, in this work, five types of Poisson clocks are taken into consideration. Poisson clocks (I), (II) and (III) govern independent agent actions of burglary behaviour, and Poisson clocks (IV) and (V) govern interactions of agents with the environment. All the Poisson clocks are independent. The time increments are independently exponentially distributed, which are more suitable to model individual actions of agents. Applying the method of merging and splitting of Poisson processes, the independent Poisson clocks can be treated as one, making the analysis and simulation similar to the SSRB model. A Martingale formula is derived, which consists of a deterministic and a stochastic component. A scaling property of the Martingale formulation with varying burglar population is found, which provides a theory to the finite size effects. The theory is supported by quantitative numerical simulations using the pattern-formation quantifying statistics. Results presented here will be transformative for both elements of application and analysis of agent-based models for residential burglary or in other domains.

We consider and analyse sampling theories in the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) in this paper. The reconstruction of a function in an RKHS from a given set of sampling points and the reproducing kernel of the RKHS is discussed. Firstly, we analyse and give the optimal approximation of any function belonging to the RKHS in detail. Then, a necessary and sufficient condition to perfectly reconstruct the function in the corresponding RKHS of complex-valued functions is investigated. Based on the derived results, another proof of the sampling theorem in the linear canonical transform (LCT) domain is given. Finally, the optimal approximation of any band-limited function in the LCT domain from infinite sampling points is also analysed and discussed.

Exact analytical representations are obtained describing self-similar unsteady flows of multi-phase immiscible fluids in the vicinity of non-circular, but constant strength, fronts. It is assumed that Darcy's law holds for each phase and that the mobilities are known functions of the saturations. Equivalent representations are obtained for Hele-Shaw cell flows that are produced when a viscous fluid is injected into a region containing some other viscous fluid. The fluids may be Newtonian fluids or non-Newtonian fluids for which the coefficients of viscosity depend on the shear stress. Even though the flows are unsteady and two dimensional, the representations are obtained by using hodograph techniques.

We introduce a differential model to study damage accumulation processes in the presence of chemical reactions. The influence of micro-structure leads to a nonlinear parabolic system characterized by the presence of a characteristic length. Here, we first present an analytical description of the qualitative behaviour of solutions which blow-up in finite time. Numerical simulations are given to describe the shape of solutions near the rupture time and the influence of the chemical reagents. As in the non-reactive model, the failure of the material occurs in a region of positive measure, due to the diffusive effects of the micro-structure, although some localization phenomena are observed. Moreover, if we increase the chemical concentration beyond a given threshold, which depends upon the specific conditions of the material, we observe a strong acceleration in the damage process.

An analysis is made of the diffraction of sound by a scratch (or groove) in the nominally plane surface of a fluid-loaded elastic solid. The solid is modelled as an isotropic half-space, and an exact representation of the diffracted sound is obtained as an integral over the surface of the scratch involving a Green's function and the acoustic field for the homogeneous solid. The restriction of the range of integration to the surface of the scratch permits the use of an approximate form of Green's function which is valid for source positions confined to a limited region of space. Details are worked out for the case in which the acoustic wavelength is much larger than the diameter of the scratch cross-section (Rayleigh approximation). The results are illustrated by application to sound waves in water inicident on a rectilinear scratch of circular cross-section in steel or rubber. In the former case an important rôle in diffraction is played by leaky Rayleigh waves on the fluid-solid interface.

Global smooth solutions are shown to exist for the system governing magneto-thermoviscoelastic phenomena in an electrically and thermally conducting isotropic solid immersed in an electromagnetic field. It is assumed that displacement currents are negligible, and that all field quantities depend on one space variable only; Joule heating is included.

In this paper we investigate the population dynamics of a species with age structure in the case where the diffusion and death rates of the matured population are both age-dependent. We develop a new application of the age-structure technique in terms of an integral equation. For unbounded spatial domains, we study the existence of travelling waves, whilst in bounded domains, we investigate the existence of positive steady-state solutions and their stability.

In this paper we describe solutions of a one-dimensional model of inviscid fluid jets that develop finite time singularities in a fractal-like manner. We also discuss the extreme sensitivity of the solutions of this problem with respect to small perturbations of the initial data.

In this study, we examine a steady two-dimensional slow flow past a rigid cylinder coated with a thin layer of immiscible fluid. The Reynolds number for the external bulk flow is assumed small and flow within the film is driven by the action of the bulk fluid’s tangential viscous stress acting at the interface. Using double asymptotic expansions based on the bulk fluid’s Reynolds number and the aspect ratio of the film thickness to the cylinder’s radius, we derive the leading- and first-order equations governing the steady-state film dynamics, and obtain analytical solutions, in terms of the film thickness, for the bulk flow. We solve the governing film equations, finding that solutions feature a drained region. We briefly discuss the influence of the Capillary number and fluid viscosities, and conclude by showing how the presence of the film affects the drag on the film-coated cylinder.