Global existence of strong solutions to a biological network formulation model in 2+1 dimensions

Abstract

In this paper we study the initial boundary value problem for the system\\ $-\mbox{{div}}\left[(I+\mathbf{m} \mathbf{m}^T)\nabla p\right]=s(x),\ \ \mathbf{m}_t-\alpha^2\Delta\mathbf{m}+|\mathbf{m}|^{2(\gamma-1)}\mathbf{m}=\beta^2(\mathbf{m}\cdot\nabla p)\nabla p$ in two space dimensions. This problem has been proposed as a continuum model for biological transportation networks. The mathematical challenge is due to the presence of cubic nonlinearities, also known as trilinear forms, in the system. We obtain a weak solution $(\mathbf{m},p) $ with both $|\nabla p|$ and $|\nabla\mathbf{m}|$ being bounded. The result immediately triggers a bootstrap argument which can yield higher regularity for the weak solution. This is achieved by deriving an equation for $v\equiv(I+\mathbf{m} \mathbf{m}^T)\nabla p\cdot\nabla p$, and then suitably applying the De Giorge iteration method to the equation.