arXiv subjects

Lorenzo Giacomelli

Publications and source records attributed to Lorenzo Giacomelli.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Advancing fronts for the thin-film equation with null slip and repulsive potentials: the case of partial wetting

For negative values of the spreading coefficient (that is, in the so-called ``partial wetting'' regime), we prove that the thin-film equation with zero slip and repulsive potentials $P$ of the form $P(h)\approx h^{1-m}$ as $h\to 0$, $m>1$, admits for any positive speed a one-parameter family of travelling-wave solutions with a contact line and (as in standard slippage models) a logarithmically-corrected linear behaviour as $h\to +\infty$. These waves have locally finite rate of dissipation for any $m>1$ and locally finite energy for any $m\in (1,3)$. The result thus confirms that mildly repulsive potentials effectively resolve the no-slip paradox. The family is parametrized by a thermodynamically consistent contact-line condition which reduces to the classical fixed microscopic contact-angle one if $P\equiv 0$.

math.AP↗

arXiv2025

Total variation flow of curves in Riemannian manifolds

We consider the functional of total variation of maps from an interval into a Riemannian submanifold of $\mathbb R^N$. We define a notion of strong solution to the system of equations corresponding to the $L^2$-gradient flow of this functional. We prove global existence of strong solutions for initial data of bounded variation. We show that the solutions satisfy a variational equality, and deduce uniqueness in the case of non-positive sectional curvature. We prove convergence of strong solutions to a constant map in finite time.

math.AP↗

arXiv2023

Droplet motion with contact-line friction: long-time asymptotics in complete wetting

We consider the thin-film equation for a class of free boundary conditions modelling friction at the contact line, as introduced by E and Ren. Our analysis focuses on formal long-time asymptotics of solutions in the perfect wetting regime. In particular, through the analysis of quasi-self-similar solutions, we characterize the profile and the spreading rate of solutions depending on the strength of friction at the contact line, as well as their (global or local) corrections, which are due to the dynamical nature of the free boundary conditions. These results are complemented with full transient numerical solutions of the free boundary problem.

math.AP↗

arXiv2023

Thin-film equations with singular potentials: an alternative solution to the contact-line paradox

In the regime of lubrication approximation, we look at spreading phenomena under the action of singular potentials of the form $P(h)\approx h^{1-m}$ as $h\to 0^+$ with $m>1$, modeling repulsion between the liquid-gas interface and the substrate. We assume zero slippage at the contact line. Based on formal analysis arguments, we report that for any $m>1$ and any value of the speed (both positive and negative) there exists a three-parameter, hence generic, family of fronts (i.e., traveling-wave solutions with a contact line). A two-parameter family of advancing "linear-log" fronts also exists, having a logarithmically corrected linear behaviour in the liquid bulk. All these fronts have finite rate of dissipation, indicating that singular potentials stand as an alternative solution to the contact-line paradox. In agreement with steady states, fronts have microscopic contact angle equal to $π/2$ for all $m>1$ and finite energy for all $m<3$. We also propose a selection criterion for the fronts, based on thermodynamically consistent contact-line conditions modeling friction at the contact line. So as contact-angle conditions do in the case of slippage models, this criterion selects a unique (up to translation) linear-log front for each positive speed. Numerical evidence suggests that, fixed the speed and the frictional coefficient, its shape depends on the spreading coefficient, with steeper fronts in partial wetting and a more prominent precursor region in dry complete wetting.

math.AP↗

arXiv2022

Spreading equilibria under mildly singular potentials: pancakes versus droplets

We study global minimizers of a functional modeling the free energy of thin liquid layers over a solid substrate under the combined effect of surface, gravitational, and intermolecular potentials. When the latter ones have a mild repulsive singularity at short ranges, global minimizers are compactly supported and display a microscopic contact angle of $π/2$. Depending on the form of the potential, the macroscopic shape can either be droplet-like or pancake-like, with a transition profile between the two at zero spreading coefficient. These results generalize, complete, and give mathematical rigor to de Gennes' formal discussion of spreading equilibria. Uniqueness and non-uniqueness phenomena are also discussed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

Nonlinear diffusion in transparent media

We consider a prototypical nonlinear parabolic equation whose flux has three distinguished features: it is nonlinear with respect to both the unknown and its gradient, it is homogeneous, and it depends only on the direction of the gradient. For such equation, we obtain existence and uniqueness of entropy solutions to the Dirichlet problem, the homogeneous Neumann problem, and the Cauchy problem. Qualitative properties of solutions, such as finite speed of propagation and the occurrence of waiting-time phenomena, with sharp bounds, are shown. We also discuss the formation of jump discontinuities both at the boundary of the solutions' support and in the bulk.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

Shape programming of a magnetic elastica

We consider a cantilever beam which possesses a possibly non-uniform permanent magnetization, and whose shape is controlled by an applied magnetic field. We model the beam as a plane elastic curve and we suppose that the magnetic field acts upon the beam by means of a distributed couple that pulls the magnetization towards its direction. Given a list of target shapes, we look for a design of the magnetization profile and for a list of controls such that the shapes assumed by the beam when acted upon by the controls are as close as possible to the targets, in an averaged sense. To this effect, we formulate and solve an optimal design and control problem leading to the minimization of a functional which we study by both direct and indirect methods. In particular, we prove that minimizers exist, solve the associated Lagrange-multiplier formulation (besides non-generic cases), and are unique at least for sufficiently low intensities of the controlling magnetic fields. To achieve the latter result, we use two nested fixed-point arguments relying on the Lagrange-multiplier formulation of the problem, a method which also suggests a numerical scheme. Various relevant open question are also discussed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2018

A local estimate for vectorial total variation minimization in one dimension

Let $\boldsymbol u$ be the minimizer of vectorial total variation ($VTV$) with $L^2$ data-fidelity term on an interval $I$. We show that the total variation of $\boldsymbol u$ over any subinterval of $I$ is bounded by that of the datum over the same subinterval. We deduce analogous statement for the vectorial total variation flow on $I$.

math.AP↗

arXiv2017

Regular 1-harmonic flow

We consider the 1-harmonic flow of maps from a bounded domain into a submanifold of a Euclidean space, i.e. the gradient flow of the total variation functional restricted to maps taking values in the manifold. We restrict ourselves to Lipschitz initial data. We prove uniqueness and, in the case of a convex domain, local existence of solutions to the flow equations. If the target manifold has non-positive sectional curvature or in the case that the datum is small, solutions are shown to exist globally and to become constant in finite time. We also consider the case where the domain is a compact Riemannian manifold without boundary, solving the homotopy problem for 1-harmonic maps under some assumptions.

math.AP↗

arXiv2017

Nonlinear diffusion in transparent media: the resolvent equation

We consider the partial differential equation $$ u-f={\rm div}\left(u^m\frac{\nabla u}{|\nabla u|}\right) $$ with $f$ nonnegative and bounded and $m\in\mathbb{R}$. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions for both the Dirichlet problem (with bounded and nonnegative {boundary datum}) and the homogeneous Neumann problem. Solutions, which a priori belong to a space of truncated bounded variation functions, are shown to have zero jump part with respect to the ${\mathcal H}^{N-1}$ Haussdorff measure. Results and proofs extend to more general nonlinearities.

math.AP↗

arXiv2017

Optimal waiting time bounds for some flux-saturated diffusion equations

We consider the Cauchy problem for two prototypes of flux-saturated diffusion equations. In arbitrary space dimension, we give an optimal condition on the growth of the initial datum which discriminates between occurrence or nonoccurrence of a waiting time phenomenon. We also prove optimal upper bounds on the waiting time. Our argument is based on the introduction of suitable families of subsolutions and on a comparison result for a general class of flux-saturated diffusion equations.

math.AP↗

arXiv2015

Dissipative scale effects in strain-gradient plasticity: the case of simple shear

We analyze dissipative scale effects within a one-dimensional theory, developed in [L. Anand et al. (2005) J. Mech. Phys. Solids 53], which describes plastic flow in a thin strip undergoing simple shear. We give a variational characterization of the {\emph{ yield (shear) stress}} --- the threshold for the inset of plastic flow --- and we use this characterization, together with results from [M. Amar et al. (2011) J. Math. Anal. Appl. 397], to obtain an explicit relation between the yield stress and the height of the strip. The relation we obtain confirms that thinner specimens are stronger, in the sense that they display higher yield stress.

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