Upper and lower solution methods for fully nonlinear boundary value problems

Abstract

Sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a solution of a fourth order nonlinear boundary value problem with nonlinear boundary conditions. The conditions assume the existence of a strong upper solution-lower solution pair, a concept that is defined in the paper. The differential equation has nonlinear dependence on all lower order derivatives of the unknown; in particular, appropriate Nagumo conditions are obtained and employed. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).