Painlevé integrability of a generalized fifth-order KdV equation with variable coefficients: Exact solutions and their interactions

Abstract

By means of singularity structure analysis, the integrability of a generalized fifth-order KdV equation is investigated. It is proven that this equation passes the Painlevé test for integrability only for three distinct cases. Moreover, the multi-soliton solutions are presented for this equation under three sets of integrable conditions. Finally, by selecting appropriate parameters, we analyze the evolution of two solitons, which is especially interesting as it may describe the overtaking and the head-on collisions of solitary waves of different shapes and different types.