A nonlinear fourth order diffusion problem: Convergence to the steady state and non-negativity of solutions

The paper deals with nonlinear diffusion, both time-dependent and time-independent. The spatial terms in the partial differential equation (p.d.e.) contain a second order nonlinear part (where the non-negative diffusivity depends on the dependent variable) and a fourth order linear part. In the context of non-null, time-independent boundary conditions, convergence of the unsteady to the steady state is established. The second part of the paper discusses criteria on data ensuring non-negativity of the solutions. This is done for the steady state irrespective of the spatial dimension; and it is done for the unsteady state for the one-dimensional rectilinear case only, using a result from the first part of the paper. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved