Abstract and Applied Analysis
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 484158, 7 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/484158
Asymptotic dichotomy in a class of fourth-order nonlinear delay differential equations with damping
Chengmin Hou1
and Sui Sun Cheng2
1Department of Mathematics, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China
2Department of Mathematics, Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30043, Taiwan
Abstract
All solutions of a fourth-order nonlinear delay differential equation are shown to converge to zero or to oscillate. Novel Riccati type techniques involving third-order linear differential equations are employed. Implications in the deflection of elastic horizontal beams are also indicated.