Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Graziano Crasta

Publications and source records attributed to Graziano Crasta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

On the divergence of the composition of irregular fields with BV functions

We introduce a family of (nonlinear) pairing measures that ensure the validity of the divergence rule for composite functions $\boldsymbol{B}(x,u(x))$, where $\boldsymbol{B}(\cdot,t)$ is a bounded divergence-measure vector field, and $u$ is a scalar function of bounded variation. The elements of the family depend on the choice of the pointwise representative of $u$ on its jump set. Beyond the standard properties, such as the Coarea and Gauss-Green formulas on sets of finite perimeter, this flexibility allows us to characterize the pairings that ensure the lower semicontinuity of the corresponding functionals along sequences converging in $L^1$ with controlled precise values. We show that these lower semicontinuous pairings arise as the relaxation of integral functionals defined in Sobolev spaces.

math.FA↗
arXiv2026

Power-logconcavity of the Laplacian ground state

Let $u$ be the first Dirichlet Laplacian eigenfunction of a bounded convex set $Ω$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$. We strengthen the classical result by Brascamp-Lieb which asserts that $u$ is logconcave in $Ω$: we prove that, if $u$ is normalized so that its $L^\infty$-norm does not exceed a threshold $\overlineκ (Ω)<1$ depending explicitly on the diameter of the domain and on its principal frequency, the function $- ( - \log u ) ^{1/2}$ is concave in $Ω$.

math.AP↗
arXiv2025

On a Differential Model for Sandpiles Growing in a Silo

We discuss some features of a boundary value problem for a system of PDEs that describes the growth of a sandpile in a container under the action of a vertical source. In particular, we characterize the long-term behavior of the profiles, and we provide a sufficient condition on the vertical source that guarantees the convergence to the equilibrium in a finite time. We show by counterexamples that a stable configuration may not be reached in a finite time, in general, even if the source is time-independent. Finally, we provide a complete characterization of the equilibrium profiles.

math.AP↗
arXiv2024

On the variational nature of the Anzellotti pairing

In this paper we prove that the Anzellotti pairing can be regarded as a relaxed functional with respect to the weak* convergence in the space BV of functions of bounded variation. The crucial tool is a preliminary integral representation of this pairing by means of suitable cylindrical averages.

math.FA↗
arXiv2023

Representation formulas for pairings between divergence-measure fields and $BV$ functions

The purpose of this paper is to find pointwise representation formulas for the density of the pairing between divergence-measure fields and BV functions, in this way continuing the research started in [17,20]. In particular, we extend a representation formula from an unpublished paper of Anzellotti [7] involving the limit of cylindrical averages for normal traces, and we exploit a result of [35] in order to derive another representation in terms of limits of averages in half balls.

math.FA↗
arXiv2023

Variational worn stones

We introduce an evolution model à la Firey for a convex stone which tumbles on a beach and undertakes an erosion process depending on some variational energy, such as torsional rigidity, principal Dirichlet Laplacian eigenvalue, or Newtonian capacity. Relying on the assumption of existence of a solution to the corresponding parabolic flow, we prove that the stone tends to become asymptotically spherical. Indeed, we identify an ultimate shape of these flows with a smooth convex body whose ground state satisfies an additional boundary condition, and we prove symmetry results for the corresponding overdetermined elliptic problems. Moreover, we extend the analysis to arbitrary convex bodies: we introduce new notions of cone variational measures and we prove that, if such a measure is absolutely continuous with constant density, the underlying body is a ball.

math.AP↗
arXiv2022

On a geometric combination of functions related to Prékopa-Leindler inequality

We introduce a new operation between nonnegative integrable functions on $\mathbb{R} ^n$, that we call geometric combination; it is obtained via a mass transportation approach, playing with inverse distribution functions. The main feature of this operation is that the Lebesgue integral of the geometric combination equals the geometric mean of the two separate integrals; as a natural consequence, we derive a new functional inequality of Prékopa-Leindler type. When applied to the characteristic functions of two measurable sets, their geometric combination provides a set whose volume equals the geometric mean of the two separate volumes. In the framework of convex bodies, by comparing the geometric combination with the $0$-sum, we get an alternative proof of the log-Brunn-Minkowski inequality for unconditional convex bodies and for convex bodies with $n$ symmetries.

math.FA↗
arXiv2021

Anisotropic perimeter and isoperimetric quotient of inner parallel bodies

The aim of this note is twofold: to give a short proof of the results in [S. Larson, A bound for the perimeter of inner parallel bodies, J. Funct. Anal. 271 (2016), 610-619] and [G. Domokos and Z. Lángi, The isoperimetric quotient of a convex body decreases monotonically under the eikonal abrasion model, Mathematika 65 (2019), 119-129]; and to generalize them to the anisotropic case.

math.MG↗
arXiv2020

A new model for suspension bridges involving the convexification of the cables

The final purpose of this paper is to show that, by inserting a convexity constraint on the cables of a suspension bridge, the torsional instability of the deck appears at lower energy thresholds. Since this constraint is suggested by the behavior of real cables, this model appears more reliable than the classical ones. Moreover, it has the advantage to reduce to two the number of degrees of freedom (DOF), avoiding to introduce the slackening mechanism of the hangers. The drawback is that the resulting energy functional is extremely complicated, involving the convexification of unknown functions. This paper is divided in two main parts. The first part is devoted to the study of these functionals, through classical methods of calculus of variations. The second part applies this study to the suspension bridge model with convexified cables.

math.DS↗
arXiv2020

Concavity properties of solutions to Robin problems

We prove that the Robin ground state and the Robin torsion function are respectively log-concave and $\frac{1}{2}$-concave on an uniformly convex domain $Ω\subset \mathbb{R}^N$ of class $\mathcal{C}^m$, with $[m -\frac{ N}{2}]\geq 4$, provided the Robin parameter exceeds a critical threshold. Such threshold depends on $N$, $m$, and on the geometry of $Ω$, precisely on the diameter and on the boundary curvatures up to order $m$.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Pairings between bounded divergence-measure vector fields and BV functions

We introduce a family of pairings between a bounded divergence-measure vector field and a function $u$ of bounded variation, depending on the choice of the pointwise representative of $u$. We prove that these pairings inherit from the standard one, introduced in [6,10], all the main properties and features (e.g. coarea, Leibniz and Gauss--Green formulas). We also characterize the pairings making the corresponding functionals semicontinuous with respect to the strict convergence in $BV$. We remark that the standard pairing in general does not share this property.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

The Brunn-Minkowski inequality for the principal eigenvalue of fully nonlinear homogeneous elliptic operators

We prove that the principal eigenvalue of any fully nonlinear homogeneous elliptic operator which fulfills a very simple convexity assumption satisfies a Brunn-Minkowski type inequality on the class of open bounded sets in $\mathbb{R}^n$ satisfying a uniform exterior sphere condition. In particular the result applies to the (possibly normalized) $p$-Laplacian, and to the minimal Pucci operator. The proof is inspired by the approach introduced by Colesanti for the principal frequency of the Laplacian within the class of convex domains, and relies on a generalization of the convex envelope method by Alvarez-Lasry-Lions. We also deal with the existence and log-concavity of positive viscosity eigenfunctions.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Bernoulli free boundary problem for the infinity Laplacian

We study the interior Bernoulli free boundary problem for the infinity Laplacian. Our results cover existence, uniqueness, and characterization of solutions (above a threshold representing the "infinity Bernoulli constant"), their regularity, and their relationship with the solutions to the interior Bernoulli problem for the $p$-laplacian.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Non-coercive radially symmetric variational problems: Existence, symmetry and convexity of minimizers

We prove existence of radially symmetric solutions and validity of Euler-Lagrange necessary conditions for a class of variational problems such that neither direct methods nor indirect methods of Calculus of Variations apply. We obtain existence and qualitative properties of the solutions by means of ad-hoc superlinear perturbations of the functional having the same minimizers of the original one.

math.OC↗
arXiv2018

On the first eigenvalue of the normalized p-Laplacian

We prove that, if $Ω$ is an open bounded domain with smooth and connected boundary, for every $p \in (1, + \infty)$ the first Dirichlet eigenvalue of the normalized $p$-Laplacian is simple in the sense that two positive eigenfunctions are necessarily multiple of each other. We also give a (non-optimal) lower bound for the eigenvalue in terms of the measure of $Ω$, and we address the open problem of proving a Faber-Krahn type inequality with balls as optimal domains.

math.AP↗
arXiv2018

Anzellotti's pairing theory and the Gauss--Green theorem

In this paper we obtain a very general Gauss-Green formula for weakly differentiable functions and sets of finite perimeter. This result is obtained by revisiting Anzellotti's pairing theory and by characterizing the measure pairing $(\boldsymbol{A}, Du)$ when $\boldsymbol{A}$ is a bounded divergence measure vector field and $u$ is a bounded function of bounded variation.

math.FA↗