Correctors and Field Fluctuations for the $p_{\epsilon}(x)$-Laplacian with Rough Exponents: The Sublinear Growth Case

Abstract

A corrector theory for the strong approximation of gradient fields inside periodic composites made from two materials with different power law behavior is provided. Each material component has a distinctly different exponent appearing in the constitutive law relating gradient to flux. The correctors are used to develop bounds on the local singularity strength for gradient fields inside micro-structured media. The bounds are multi-scale in nature and can be used to measure the amplification of applied macroscopic fields by the microstructure. The results in this paper are developed for materials having power law exponents strictly between -1 and zero.