Nonnegative Solutions for a Long-Wave Unstable Thin Film Equation with Convection

Abstract

We consider a nonlinear fourth-order degenerate parabolic partial differential equation that arises in modeling the dynamics of an incompressible thin liquid film on the outer surface of a rotating horizontal cylinder in the presence of gravity. The parameters involved determine a rich variety of qualitatively different flows. Depending on the initial data and the parameter values, we prove the existence of nonnegative periodic weak solutions. In addition, we prove that these solutions and their gradients cannot grow any faster than linearly in time; there cannot be a finite-time blowup. Finally, we present numerical simulations of solutions.