Global weak solutions for an incompressible, generalized Newtonian fluid interacting with a linearly elastic Koiter shell

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the interaction of an incompressible, generalized Newtonian fluid with a linearly elastic Koiter shell whose motion is restricted to transverse displacements. The middle surface of the shell constitutes the mathematical boundary of the three-dimensional fluid domain. We show that weak solutions exist as long as the magnitude of the displacement stays below some (possibly large) bound which is determined by the geometry of the undeformed shell.