# zbMATH — the first resource for mathematics

On higher eigenvalues of variational inequalities. (English) Zbl 0638.49020
Various previously published results and theorems on eigenvalue problems for variational inequalities are collected in this short paper. More precisely, let a(u,v) and b(u,v) be bounded, real and symmetric bilinear forms defined on the real Hilbert space H and let K be a closed and convex cone of H. Suppose a(u,v) coercive and b(u,v) completely continuous. The author studies the problem $(*)\quad u\in K,\quad a(u,v-u)\geq \mu b(u,v-u)\text{ for all } v\in K,$ where $$\mu$$ is a real parameter. The existence of eigenvalues for the problem (*) is proved using a variational approach. This proof forms the original part of the work.
An interesting, although not new, application of the main theorem to the problem of buckling of a clamped circular plate with a unilateral constraint is given in the final part of the paper.

##### MSC:
 49R50 Variational methods for eigenvalues of operators (MSC2000) 49J40 Variational inequalities 74S30 Other numerical methods in solid mechanics (MSC2010)
##### Keywords:
eigenvalue problems for variational inequalities
Full Text: