On the convergence of the nonlocal nonlinear model to the classical elasticity equation

Abstract

We consider a general class of convolution-type nonlocal wave equations modeling bidirectional propagation of nonlinear waves in a continuous medium. In the limit of vanishing nonlocality we study the behavior of solutions to the Cauchy problem. We prove that, as the kernel functions of the convolution integral approach the Dirac delta function, the solutions converge strongly to the corresponding solutions of the classical elasticity equation. An energy estimate with no loss of derivative plays a critical role in proving the convergence result. As a typical example, we consider the continuous limit of the discrete lattice dynamic model (the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou model) and show that, as the lattice spacing approaches zero, solutions to the discrete lattice equation converge to the corresponding solutions of the classical elasticity equation.