Hindawi Publishing Corporation Boundary Value Problems Volume 2010, Article ID 268946, 13 pages pot

Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Boundary Value Problems
Volume 2010, Article ID 268946, 13 pages
doi:10.1155/2010/268946

Research Article
Multiplicity of Nontrivial Solutions for
Kirchhoff Type Problems
Bitao Cheng,1 Xian Wu,2 and Jun Liu1
1

College of Mathematics and Information Science, Qujing Normal University, Qujing,
Yunnan 655011, China
2
Department of Mathematics, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan 650092, China
Correspondence should be addressed to Xian Wu,
Received 25 October 2010; Accepted 14 December 2010
Academic Editor: Zhitao Zhang
Copyright q 2010 Bitao Cheng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
By using variational methods, we study the multiplicity of solutions for Kirchhoff type problems
− a b Ω |∇u|2 Δu f x, u , in Ω; u 0, on ∂Ω. Existence results of two nontrivial solutions and
infinite many solutions are obtained.

1. Introduction
Consider the following Kirchhoff type problems
− a

b

Ω

|∇u|2 Δu
u

0,

f x, u ,

in Ω,
1.1

on ∂Ω,

where Ω is a smooth bounded domain in RN N 1, 2, or 3 , a, b > 0, and f : Ω × R1 → R1
is a Carath´ odory function that satisfies the subcritical growth condition
e

f x, t

≤C 1

|t|p−1

where C is a positive constant.

for some 2 < p < 2∗

⎧
⎨ 2N , N ≥ 3,

N−2
⎩
∞,
N 1, 2,

1.2


2

Boundary Value Problems

It is pointed out in 1 that the problem 1.1 model several physical and biological
systems, where u describes a process which depends on the average of itself e.g., population
density . Moreover, this problem is related to the stationary analogue of the Kirchhoff
equation

utt − a

b

Ω

|∇u|2 Δu

g x, t ,

1.3

proposed by Kirchhoff 2 as an extension of the classical D’ Alembert’s wave equation

for free vibrations of elastic strings. Kirchhoff’s model takes into account the changes in
length of the string produced by transverse vibrations. Some early studies of Kirchhoff
equations were Bernstein 3 and Pohozaev 4 . However, 1.3 received much attention
only after Lions 5 proposed an abstract framework to the problem. Some interesting
results can be found, for example, in 6–13 . Specially, more recently, Alves et al. 14 ,
Ma and Rivera 10 , and He and Zou 9 studied the existence of positive solutions and
infinitely many positive solutions of the problems by variational methods, respectively;
Perera and Zhang 12 obtained one nontrivial solutions of 1.1 by Yang index theory;
Zhang and Perera 13 and Mao and Zhang 11 got three nontrivial solutions a positive
solution, a negative solution, and a sign-changing solution by invariant sets of descent
flow.
In the present paper, we are interested in finding multiple nontrivial solutions of the
problem 1.1 . We will use a three-critical-point theorem due to Brezis and Nirenberg 15 and
a Z2 version of the Mountain Pass Theorem due to Rabinowitz 16 to study the existence of
multiple nontrivial solutions of problem 1.1 . Our results are different from the above theses.

2. Preliminaries
1
Let X : H0 Ω be the Sobolev space equipped with the inner product and the norm

u, v

Ω

∇u · ∇v dx,

u

u, u

1/2

.

2.1

Throughout the paper, we denote by | · |r the usual Lr -norm. Since Ω is a bounded domain, it
is well known that X → Lr Ω continuously for r ∈ 1, 2∗ , compactly for r ∈ 1, 2∗ . Hence,
for r ∈ 1, 2∗ , there exists γr such that
|u|r ≤ γr u ,

∀u ∈ X.

2.2

Recall that a function u ∈ X is called a weak solution of 1.1 if

a

b u

2
Ω

∇u · ∇v dx

Ω

f x, u v dx,

∀v ∈ X.

2.3


Boundary Value Problems

3

Seeking a weak solution of problem 1.1 is equivalent to finding a critical point of C1
functional
a
u
2

Φ u :

b
u
4

2

4

−Ψ u ,

2.4

where

Ψu :

Ω

2.5

t

F x, t :

∀u ∈ X,

F x, u dx,

∀ x, t ∈ Ω × R .
1

f x, s ds,
0

Moreover,
Φ u ,v

a

b u

2
Ω

∇u∇v −

Ω

∀u, v ∈ X.

f x, u v,

2.6

Our assumptions lead us to consider the eigenvalue problems
−Δu
u

0,

2.7

on ∂Ω,

− u 2 Δu
u

in Ω,

λu,

μu3 ,

0,

in Ω,

2.8

on ∂Ω.

Denote by 0 < λ1 < λ2 < · · · < λk · · · the distinct eigenvalues of the problem 2.7 and by
V1 , V2 , . . . , Vk , . . . the eigenspaces corresponding to these eigenvalues. It is well known that λ1
can be characterized as
λ1

inf

u

2

: u ∈ X, |u|2

1 ,

2.9

and λ1 is achieved by ϕ1 > 0.
μ is an eigenvalue of problem 2.8 means that there is a nonzero u ∈ X such that
u

2
Ω

∇u∇v dx

μ

Ω

∀v ∈ X.

u3 v dx,

2.10

This u is called an eigenvector corresponding to eigenvalue μ. Set
I u

u 4,

u∈S:

u∈X:

Ω

u4

1 .

2.11

4

Boundary Value Problems

Denote by 0 < μ1 < μ2 < · · · all distinct eigenvalues of the problem 2.8 . Then,
μ1 : inf I u ,

2.12

u∈S

μ1 > 0 is simple and isolated, and μ1 can be achieved at some ψ1 ∈ S and ψ1 > 0 in Ω see
12, 13 .
We need the following concept, which can be found in 17 .
Definition 2.1. Let X be a Banach space and Φ ∈ C1 X, R1 . We say that Φ satisfies the P S
condition at the level c ∈ R1 P S c condition for short if any sequence {un } ⊂ X along with
Φ un → c and Φ un → 0 as n → ∞ possesses a convergent subsequence. If Φ satisfies
P S c condition for each c ∈ R1 , then we say that Φ satisfies the P S condition.
In this paper, the following theorems are our main tools, which are Theorem 4 in 15
and Theorem 9.12 in 16 , respectively.
Theorem 2.2. Let X be a real Banach space with a direct sum decomposition X X1 ⊕ X2 , where
k dim X2 < ∞. Let F ∈ C1 X, R1 and satisfy P S condition. Assume that there is r > 0 such that
F u ≥ 0,

for u ∈ X1 , u ≤ r,

F u ≤ 0,

for u ∈ X2 , u ≤ r.

2.13

Assume also that F is bounded below and
inf F u < 0.

2.14

u∈X

Then F has at least two nonzero critical points.
Theorem 2.3. Let X be an infinite dimensional real Banach space, and let F ∈ C1 X, R1 be even
and satisfy the P S condition and F 0
0. Let X X1 ⊕ X2 , where X2 is finite dimensional, and F
satisfies that
i there exist constants ρ, α > 0 such that F|∂Bρ
∂Bρ

u∈X: u

X1

≥ α, where
ρ ,

ii for each finite dimensional subspace E1 ⊂ X, the set {u ∈ E1 : F u > 0} is bounded.
Then, F possesses an unbounded sequence of critical values.

3. Main Results
We need the following assumptions.

f1 f x, t is odd in t for all x ∈ Ω.

2.15


Boundary Value Problems

5
> 0 and λ ∈ λk , λk

f2 There exist δ > 0,

1

1

3.1

, k ∈ N such that

2F x, t ≤ aλ|t|2 ,
1

∀x ∈ Ω, |t| ≤ δ,

are two consecutive eigenvalues of the problem 2.7 .

f3 There exist δ > 0 and λ ∈ λk , λk

where λk and λk

, k ∈ N, such that

|t|2 ≤ 2F x, t ≤ aλ|t|2 ,

a λk
where λk and λk

1

∀x ∈ Ω, |t| ≤ δ,

3.2

are two consecutive eigenvalues of the problem 2.7 .

f4

lim sup
|t| → ∞

F x, t − b/4 μ1 |t|4
< α,
|t|τ

uniformly in x ∈ Ω,

3.3

where τ ∈ 0, 2 and 0 < 2α < aλ1 .

f5 ∃ν > 4 such that νF x, t ≤ tf x, t , |t| large.
Now, we are ready to state our main results.
Theorem 3.1. If conditions (f2 ) and (f4 ) hold, then the problem 1.1 has at least two nontrivial
solutions in X.
Proof. Set
∞

k

Vi ,

X1

X2

Then, X has a direct sum decomposition X

Vi .

3.4

i 1

i k 1

X1 ⊕ X2 with dim X2 < ∞. Let Mr be such that

|u|r ≥ Mr u ,

∀u ∈ X2 .

3.5

Step 1. Φ is weakly lower semicontinuous.
Indeed, we only to show Ψ : X → R is weakly upper semicontinuous. Let {un } ⊂ X,
u in X. Then, we may assume that
u ∈ X, un
un −→ u

in Lr Ω , r ∈ 1, 2∗ .

3.6

We need to prove
Ψ u ≥ lim sup Ψ un
n→∞

inf sup Ψ un .

k∈N n≥k

3.7


6

Boundary Value Problems

If this is false, then
Ψ u < lim sup Ψ un

inf sup Ψ un ,

3.8

k∈N n≥k

n→∞

and hence there exist ε0 > 0 and a subsequence of {un }, still denoted by {un }, such that
ε0 < Ψ un − Ψ u
F x, un − F x, u dx

Ω

1

f x, u

Ω

≤
≤
≤

1
Ω

Ω

Ω

s un − u

un − u ds dx

0

C |u

s un − u |p−1

1 |un − u|ds dx

3.9

0

C 2p−1 |u|p−1

|un − u|p−1

C2p−1 |u|p−1 |un − u|dx

−→ 0,

Ω

1 |un − u|dx
C2p−1 |un − u|p dx

Ω

C|un − u|dx

as n −→ ∞.

This is a contradiction. Hence, Ψ is weakly upper semicontinuous, and hence Φ is weakly
lower semicontinuous.
Step 2. There exists r > 0, such that
Φ u ≥ 0,

for u ∈ X1 , u ≤ r,

Φ u ≤ 0,

for u ∈ X2 , u ≤ r.

3.10

Particularly,
Φ u < 0,

for u ∈ X2 , 0 < u ≤ r.

3.11

Indeed, by 1.2 and f2 , there exist two positive constants C1 , C2 such that
F x, t ≤
F x, t ≥

a
λ|t|2
2

a
λk
2

C1 |t|p ,

3.12

|t|2 − C2 |t|p .

3.13


Boundary Value Problems

7

Thus, for u ∈ X1 , the combination of 2.2 and 3.12 implies that
Φu ≥

a
u
2

≥

a
u
2

b
u
4

2

4

b
u
4

2

4

λ
a
1−
2
λk 1

−

a

λ
2

−

a λ
u
2 λk 1

u

Ω

u2 dx − C1

b
u
4

2

4

2

Ω

|u|p dx

− C1 γp u

p

3.14

− C1 γp u p .

Then, there exists r1 > 0 such that
Φ u ≥ 0,

for u ∈ X1 , u ≤ r1 ,

3.15

due to p > 2 and λ < λk 1 . Moreover, for u ∈ X2 , the combination of 2.2 and 3.13 implies
that
Φ u ≤

a
u
2

≤

a
u
2
−

where C3

2

2

b
u
4
b
u
4

a λk
2
λk

4

4

−

a
λk
2

−

a λk
2

λk

−1

u

2

Ω

b
u
4

u2 dx
2

u
4

C2
C3 u

Ω

|u|p dx

p

3.16

C3 u p ,

C2 γp . Hence, there exists r2 > 0 such that
for u ∈ X2 , u ≤ r2 ,

Φ u ≤ 0,
Φ u < 0,

3.17

for u ∈ X2 , 0 < u ≤ r2 .

Lastly, the conclusion follows from choosing r
Step 3. Φ is coercive on X, that is, Φ u →
In fact, set

min{r1 , r2 }.

∞ as n → ∞, and Φ is bounded from below.

b
p x, t : F x, t − μ1 |t|4 .
4

3.18

Then,
Φ u

a
u
2

2

b
u
4

4

b
− μ1
4

Ω

u4 dx −

Ω

p x, u dx,

∀u ∈ X.

3.19


8

Boundary Value Problems

Condition f4 implies that

lim sup
|t| → ∞

p x, t
< α,
|t|τ

uniformly in x ∈ Ω,

3.20

where τ ∈ 0, 2 and 0 < 2α < aλ1 . By contradiction, if Φ is not coercive on X, then there exist
a sequence {un } ⊂ X and some constant C4 ∈ R1 such that
un −→ ∞,

as n −→ ∞, but Φ un ≤ C4 .

3.21

By virtue of 3.20 , there exist some constant M > 1 such that
−p x, t > −α|t|τ ,

∀x ∈ Ω, |t| > M.

3.22

Set Ω1 {x ∈ Ω : |un x | > M} and Ω2 {x ∈ Ω : |un x | ≤ M}. Then, the combination of
n
n
3.19 – 3.22 and 1.2 implies that there exists A A M > 0 such that
a
un
2

C4 ≥ Φ un
a
un
2
≥

a
un
2

a
≥
un
2
≥
≥

a
un
2

b
4

2

2

2

2

−
−
−

a α
−
2 λ1

b
un
4

2

un

Ω1
n

4

− μ1

4

b
− μ1
4

Ω

Ω

u4 dx
n

u4 dx −
n

Ω1
n

Ω

p x, un dx

−p x, un dx

Ω2

n

−p x, un dx

α|un x |τ dx − A
3.23
2

Ω1
n

Ω

α|un x | dx − A

α|un x |2 dx − A

un

2

− A −→ ∞,

as n −→ ∞.

This is a contradiction. Therefore, Φ is coercive on X and so Φ is bounded from blew due to
Φ is weakly lower semicontinuous.
Step 4. Φ satisfies P S condition; that is, any P S sequence has a convergent subsequence.
Indeed, let {un } ⊂ X be a P S sequence of Φ. By the coerciveness of Φ we know that
{un } is bounded in X. By the reflexivity of X, we can assume that there exists u ∈ X such that

un

u

in X,

un −→ u

in Lp Ω ,

un x −→ u x

for a.e. x ∈ Ω.

3.24


Boundary Value Problems

9

Hence, by 1.2 , we know that there is C5 > 0 such that

Ω

f x, un u − un dx ≤

p/ p−1

f x, un

Ω

≤ 2C

Ω

p−1 /p

dx

Ω

p−1 /p

|un |p

1 dx

≤ C5 |u − un |p −→ 0,

|u − un |p dx

· |u − un |p

1/p

3.25

as n −→ ∞.

Moreover, since
a

b un

2
Ω

∇un ∇ u − un −
−→ 0,

Φ un , u − un

Ω

f x, un u − un dx
3.26

as n −→ ∞,

then
un −→ u ,

as n −→ ∞.

3.27

Hence, un → u in X due to the uniform convexity of X.
Now, the conclusion follows from Theorem 2.2.

Corollary 3.2. If conditions (f2 ) and
f4
lim

|t| → ∞

b
F x, t − μ1 |t|4
4

−∞,

uniformly in x ∈ Ω

3.28

hold, then the problem 1.1 has at least two nontrivial solutions in X.
Proof. Note that the condition
Theorem 3.1.

f4

implies

f4 . Hence, the conclusion follows from

Remark 3.3. Perera and Zhang 12 only obtained one nontrivial solution of Kirchhoff type
problem 1.1 by Yang index under the conditions
lim

t→0

where λ ∈ λk , λk
condition

1

f x, t
at

λ,

and μ ∈ μm , μm

lim

|t| → ∞

1

f x, t
t→0
at

lim

f x, t
bt3

μ,

uniformly in x,

3.29

is not an eigenvalue of 2.8 , k / m. We point out the

λ,

uniformly in x

3.30


10

Boundary Value Problems

implies the condition f2 , and as m

lim

|t| → ∞

0, that is, μ < μ1 , the condition

f x, t
bt3

μ,

3.31

uniformly in x

implies the condition f4 . Moreover, we allow μ ≡ μ1 is an eigenvalue of 2.8 . When m ≥ 1,
The following example shows that there are functions which satisfy f2 and f4 and do not
satisfy the condition
f6 μ ∈ μm , μm

1

is not an eigenvalue of 2.8 .

Example 3.4. Set

f x, t

⎧
⎪−sτ|t|τ−1 − br|t|3 sτ br − aξ,
⎪
⎪
⎨
aξt,
⎪
⎪
⎪
⎩
sτ|t|τ−1 br|t|3 − sτ − br aξ,

t < −1,
|t| ≤ 1,

3.32

t > 1,

where s < α, λk < ξ < λk 1 , τ ∈ 1, 2 and r ≤ μ1 . It is easy to verify f x, t satisfies conditions
f2 and f4 , but

lim

|t| → ∞

f x, t
bt3

r ≤ μ1 ,

uniformly in x.

3.33

Certainly, our Theorem 3.1 cannot contain Theorem 1.1 in 12 completely.
Remark 3.5. Zhang and Perera 13 obtained a existence theorem Theorem 1.1 ii of three
solutions a positive solution, a negative solution, and a sign-changing solution for 1.1
under the conditions
f x, t
∞ bt3

lim

|t| →

∃λ > λ2 : F x, t ≥

μ < μ1 ,
aλ 2
t,
2

μ / 0,
|t| small.

C1
C2

But, our condition f4 is weaker than the condition C1 and the left hand of our condition
f2 is weaker than the condition C2 . Moreover, we allow μ ≡ μ1 is an eigenvalue of
2.8 . The above Example 3.4 with k
1 i.e, λ1 < ξ < λ2 shows that there are functions
which satisfy all conditions of Theorem 3.1 and do not satisfy Theorem 1.1 ii in 13 . Hence,
Theorem 1.1 ii in 13 cannot contain our Theorem 3.1.
Theorem 3.6. Let conditions f1 , f3 , and f5 hold, then the problem 1.1 has infinite many
solutions in X.


Boundary Value Problems

11

Proof. Set
∞

k

X1

Vi ,

X2

3.34

Vi .
i 1

i k 1

X1 ⊕ X2 with dim X2 < ∞.

Then, X has a direct sum decomposition X

Step 1. There exist constants ρ > 0 and α > 0 such that Φ|∂Bρ X1 ≥ α, where Bρ {u ∈ X :
u
ρ}.
Indeed, for u ∈ X1 , by 1.2 and f3 , we know 3.12 holds. Hence, by 2.2 , we have
Φu ≥

a

u
2

≥

a
u
2

b
u
4

2

b
u
4

2

λ
a
1−
2
λk 1

4

4

−

a
λ
2

−

a λ
u
2 λk 1

u

2

Ω

u2 dx − C1

b
u
4

4

2

Ω

|u|p dx

− C1 γp u

p

3.35

− C1 γp u p .

Hence, we can choose small ρ > 0 such that
Φ u ≥
whenever u ∈ X1 with u

λ
a
1−
ρ2 : α > 0,
4
λk 1

3.36

ρ.

Step 2. For each finite dimensional subspace E1 ⊂ X, the set {x ∈ E1 : Φ x ≥ 0} is bounded.
Indeed, by 1.2 and f5 , we know that there exist constants C5 , C6 > 0 such that
F x, t ≥ C5 |t|ν − C6 .

3.37

Hence, for every u ∈ E1 \ {0}, one has
Φ u ≤

a
u
2

2

b
u
4

4

− C5

Since E1 is finite dimensional, we can choosing R
Φ u < 0,

Ω

|u|ν dx

C6 |Ω|.

3.38

R E1 > 0 such that

∀u ∈ E1 \ BR .

3.39

Moreover, by Lemma 2.2 iii in 13 , we know that Φ satisfies P S condition, and Φ is
even due to f1 . Hence, the conclusion follows from Theorem 9.12 in 16 .


12

Boundary Value Problems

Remark 3.7. Zhang and Perera 13 obtained an existence theorem of three solutions for 1.1
under the condition f5 and the condition

F x, t ≤

aλ1 2
t,
2

|t| small,

3.40

which implies our condition f3 . Our Theorem 3.6 obtains the existence of infinite many
solutions of 1.1 in the case adding the condition f1 .

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the referee for the useful suggestions. This work is supported
in partly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 10961028 , Yunnan NSF
Grant no. 2010CD080, and the Foundation of young teachers of Qujing Normal University
2009QN018 .

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Boundary Value Problems

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