The $\tau_N$-configurations and polyconvex gradient flows

Abstract

We study a generalization of $T_N$-configurations, called the $\tau_N$-configurations, for constructing certain irregular solutions of some nonlinear diffusion systems by the method of convex integration. We construct some polyconvex functions that support a parametrized family of $\tau_N$-configurations satisfying a general openness condition; this will guarantee the existence of nowhere-$C^1$ Lipschitz weak solutions to the initial boundary value problems of the polyconvex gradient flows. We elaborate on such constructions and the subsequent verification of the openness condition when the dimension is at least 4 to avoid some complicated calculations that cannot be done by hand but would otherwise be needed for dimensions 2 and 3.