Synchronization in coupled second order in time infinite-dimensional models

Abstract

We study asymptotic synchronization at the level of global attractors in a class of coupled second order in time models which arises in dissipative wave and elastic structure dynamics. Under some conditions we prove that this synchronization arises in the infinite coupling intensity limit and show that for identical subsystems this phenomenon appears for finite intensities. Our argument involves a method based on "compensated" compactness and quasi-stability estimates. As an application we consider the nonlinear Kirchhoff, Karman and Berger plate models with different types of boundary conditions. Our results can be also applied to the nonlinear wave equations in an arbitrary dimension. We consider synchronization in sine-Gordon type models which describes distributed Josephson junctions.