
\documentclass[reqno]{amsart}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\AtBeginDocument{{\noindent\small
{\em Electronic Journal of Differential Equations},
Vol. 2006(2006), No. 53, pp. 1--16.\newline
ISSN: 1072-6691. URL: http://ejde.math.txstate.edu or http://ejde.math.unt.edu
\newline ftp ejde.math.txstate.edu  (login: ftp)}
\thanks{\copyright 2006 Texas State University - San Marcos.}
\vspace{9mm}}

\begin{document}
\title[\hfilneg EJDE-2006/53\hfil Nonlinear transmission problem]
{Nonlinear transmission problem with a dissipative boundary
 condition of memory type}
 
\author[D. Andrade, L. Harue Fatori, J. E. Mu\~noz Rivera
\hfil EJDE-2006/53\hfilneg]
{Doherty Andrade, Luci Harue Fatori, Jaime E. Mu\~noz Rivera}  % in alphabetical order

\address{Doherty Andrade \newline
Maring\'a  State University, Departament of Mathematics,
87020-900 - Maring\'a, Brazil}
\email{doherty@uem.br}

\address{Luci H. Fatori \newline
Londrina  State University, Departament of Mathematics, 86051-990 -
Londrina, Brazil} 
\email{lucifatori@uel.br}

\address{Jaime E. Mun\~oz Rivera \newline
Laborat\'orio Nacional de Computa\c c\~ao Cient\'\i fica, Av.
Get\'ulio Vargas, 333, 25651-070 - Petr\'opolis, Brazil}
\email{rivera@lncc.br}

\date{}
\thanks{Submitted November 10, 2005. Published April 28, 2006.}
\subjclass[2000]{35B40, 35L70}
\keywords{Wave equation; asymptotic behavior; memory}

\begin{abstract}
 We consider a differential equation that models a material
 consisting of two elastic components. One component is clamped
 while the other is in a viscoelastic fluid producing a
 dissipative mechanism on the boundary.
 So, we have a transmission problem with boundary damping condition
 of memory type. We prove the existence of a global solution
 and its uniformly decay to zero  as time approaches infinity.
 More specifically, the solution decays exponentially
 provided the relaxation function decays exponentially.
\end{abstract}

\maketitle
\numberwithin{equation}{section}
\newtheorem{theorem}{Theorem}[section]
\newtheorem{lemma}[theorem]{Lemma}
\newtheorem{definition}[theorem]{Definition}
\allowdisplaybreaks
\newcommand{\der}[2]{\frac{\partial #1}{\partial #2}}

\section{Introduction}

In this paper, we model the oscillation of a solid consisting of
two elastic materials. We suppose that a part of the boundary is
inside a viscoelastic fluid producing a dissipative mechanism of
memory type while the other part of the boundary is clamped. The
corresponding mathematical equations which model this situation is
called a transmission problem with boundary dissipation.

Boundary dissipation  was studied  for several  authors, see for
example, \cite{Gr 1, Sh 2, La10, Tu12, Co14, On15, Wy18, Ca28} and
the references therein, all of them dealing with frictional
damping.  Models with memory dissipation are physically and
mathematically more interesting,  physically  because our model
follows the constitutive  equations  for materials  with memory
and Mathematically because the estimates we need to show the
exponential decay are more delicate and depends on the relaxation
function, see for example \cite{2} and the references therein.


Memory dissipation is produced by the interaction of materials
with memory. Such types of dissipation are subtle and their
analysis are more delicate than the frictional damping, because
introduce another type of technical difficulties. So, we have only
a few works in this direction.

In this work we show the existence of solutions of a nonlinear
transmission problem with boundary dissipation of memory type.
Moreover we will prove that under suitable conditions on the
relaxation functions the solution will decay uniformly as time
goes to infinity. The transmission problem considered here is
\begin{gather}
\rho_1 u_{tt}-\gamma_1 \Delta u + f(u)=0, \quad \mbox{in }
 \Omega_{1}\times]0,T[, \label{eq1.1} \\
\rho_2 v_{tt}-\gamma_2 \Delta v + g(v)=0, \quad \mbox{in }
\Omega_{2}\times]0,T[,\label{eq1.2}
\end{gather}
with boundary condition
\begin{equation} \label{eq1.3}
 u(x,t)+\int_0^t k(t-\tau) \frac{\partial u}{\partial
\nu}d\tau =0 \quad\mbox{ on }\quad \Gamma
\end{equation}
and satisfying the transmission condition
\begin{equation} \label{eq1.4}
 u=v,\quad\mbox{ and }\quad \gamma_1
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu} = \gamma_2 \frac{\partial
v}{\partial \nu} \quad\mbox{on } \quad\Gamma_1.
\end{equation}
Additionally we assume that $v$ satisfies Dirichlet boundary
condition over $\Gamma_2$,
\begin{equation}\label{eq1.5}
v(x,t)=0,\quad \mbox{on } \Gamma_2\times]0,T[,
\end{equation}
and verifies the initial conditions
\begin{gather*}
u(x,0)= u_0(x), \quad \mbox{and}\quad u_t(x,0)= u_1(x)
\quad \mbox{in } \Omega_1\\
v(x,0)= v_0(x), \quad\mbox{and}\quad
v_t(x,0)= v_1(x) \quad \mbox{in } \Omega_2.
\end{gather*}
\begin{figure}[htb]
\begin{center}
\setlength{\unitlength}{1mm}
\begin{picture}(62,40)(0,10)
\put(30,30){\circle{16}} \put(29,29){$\bullet$} \put(31,31){$x_0$}
\put(37.5,29){$\Gamma_2$} \qbezier(12,30)(13,39)(30,40)
\qbezier(12,30)(13,21)(30,20) \qbezier(30,40)(47,39)(48,30)
\qbezier(30,20)(47,21)(48,30) \put(16,29){$\Omega_2$}
\put(42.5,37.5){$\Gamma_1$} \qbezier(55.98,45)(48.61,55.76)(22.5,43)
\qbezier(22.5,43)(-1.61,26.76)(4.02,15)
\qbezier(4.02,15)(11.39,4.24)(37.5,17)
\qbezier(37.5,17)(61.62,33.24)(55.98,45) \put(11,17){$\Omega_1$}
\put(54,28){$\Gamma$}
\end{picture}
\end{center}
\caption{The configuration\label{fig1}}
\end{figure}


The transmission problem \eqref{eq1.1}-\eqref{eq1.2} can be
consider as a semilinear wave equation with discontinuous
coefficients and discontinuous and non linear terms; that is,
denoting
\begin{gather*}
U= \begin{cases} u(x), &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_1\\
v(x), &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_2,\end{cases} \quad
\rho(x)= \begin{cases} \rho_1, &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_1\\
\rho_2,&\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_2,\end{cases}
\\
a(x)= \begin{cases} \gamma_1, &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_1\\
\gamma_2, &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_2,\end{cases} \quad
F(x)=\begin{cases} f(x), &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_1\\
g(x), &\mbox{if } x \in \Omega_2.\end{cases}
\end{gather*}
Note that \eqref{eq1.1}-\eqref{eq1.2} is equivalent to
$$
\rho(x) U_{tt}- a(x) \Delta U+F(U)=0,\quad \mbox{ in } \Omega
\times (0,T)
$$
where $\Omega = \Omega_1 \times \Omega_2$.

\section{Existence of solutions}


\begin{lemma}\label{lemma2.1}
For each function $\alpha\in C^{1}$
and each $\varphi \in W^{1,2}(0,T)$, we have
\begin{equation}
\int_{0}^{t}\alpha(t-\tau )\varphi (\tau )d\tau \varphi _{t}
=-\frac{1}{2}
\alpha(t)|\varphi (t)|^{2}+\frac{1}{2}\alpha'\Box \varphi
-\frac{1}{2}\frac{d}{dt}\big\{ \alpha\Box \varphi -\Big(
\int_{0}^{t}\alpha\Big) |\varphi |^{2}\big\}.\label{eq2.1}
\end{equation}
\end{lemma}
Let  $a$ be a function that satisfies
\begin{equation}\label{eq2.2}
k(0) a+ k' * a= -\frac{k'}{k(0)}.
\end{equation}
By $*$ we  denote the convolution product; that is,
 $k*g(\cdot,t)=\int_{0}^{t}k(t-\tau )g(\cdot ,\tau )\,d\tau $.
The function $a$ is called the resolvent kernel of $k$.
Using the Volterra's resolvent, we have
$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}= -\frac{1}{k(0)}u_t-a*u_t
$$
after performing an integration by parts, the above identity is
equivalent to
\begin{equation}\label{eq2.3}
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}=
-\frac{1}{k(0)}u_t-a(0)u-a'*u+a(t)u_0.
\end{equation}
We assume the following hypotheses on $a$:
\begin{gather}
a(t)>0,\quad  a'(t) <0,\quad  a''(t)>0,\quad
\forall t \geq 0 \label{eq2.4}\\
-c_0 a'(t) \leq a''(t)\leq -c_1
a'(t),\quad \forall t \geq 0,\label{eq2.5}
\end{gather}
where $c_i$ are positive constants. To facilitate our calculation
we introduce the following notation
\begin{gather}
(\alpha \Box f) (t)= \int_0^t \alpha(t-\tau) \left| f(t) -
f(\tau)\right|^2d\tau, \label{eq2.6}\\
(\alpha \diamondsuit f) (t)= \int_0^t g(t-\tau) \left[ f(t) -
f(\tau)\right] d\tau .\label{eq2.7}
\end{gather}
It follows that
\begin{equation}
(\alpha *f) (t)= \Big(\int_0^t \alpha(s) ds\Big)f(t)-(\alpha
\diamondsuit f) (t). \label{eq2.8}
\end{equation}
 From hypothesis \eqref{eq2.2}, we know that the behavior of
$a$ is similar to the behavior of $k$. We can find the following
Lemma in \cite{jaime+racke}.

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma2.2}
If $b$ and $\alpha$ satisfy $b+\alpha=-b*\alpha$,
then
\begin{itemize}
\item[(i)] Suppose that $|\alpha(t)|\leq c_\alpha{\rm e}^{-\gamma t}$,
for all $t>0$, for some $\gamma >0$, and  $c_\alpha>0$,
 then for any $0 <\varepsilon <\gamma$ and
 $c_\alpha< \gamma - \varepsilon$, we have
$$
|b(t)| \leq \frac{c_\alpha(\gamma-
\varepsilon)}{\gamma-\varepsilon-c_\alpha}{\rm e}^{-\varepsilon
t}, \quad \forall t >0.
$$
\item[(ii)] If $\alpha$ satisfies
$ |\alpha(t)|\leq c_\alpha(1+t)^{-p}$,
for some $p>1$, $c_\alpha>0$ and
$$
\frac{1}{c_\alpha} > c_p:= \sup_{0\leq
t<\infty}\int_0^t(1+t)^p (1+t-\tau)^{-p} (1+\tau)^{-p} d\tau,
$$
then
$$
 |b(t)| \leq \frac{c_\alpha}{1-c_\alpha c_p}(1+t)^{-p}, \forall\, t> 0.
$$
\end{itemize}
\end{lemma}

Let us introduce the following two vector spaces
\begin{gather*}
W= \{w\in H^1(\Omega_2): w(x)=0  \mbox{ on } \Gamma_2\},\\
V=\{ (u,v) \in H^1(\Omega_{1}) \times W : u=v  \hbox{ on }
 \Gamma_{1} \}.
\end{gather*}
Let us consider $f, g \in C^1(\mathbb{R})$
satisfying
\begin{gather}
|f(s)| \leq  C_1 |s|^\rho + C_2 \quad \hbox{and} \quad
|g(s)|\leq C_1 |s|^\rho + C_2,\label{eq2.9}\\
|f'(s)| \leq  C_1 |s|^{\rho -1} + C_2 \quad \hbox{and}
\quad |g'(s)|\leq C_1 |s|^{\rho -1} + C_2 \label{eq2.10} ,
\end{gather}
where $C_1$ and $C_2$ are positive constants. When the space
dimension is $n\leq 2$, we use $1 \le \rho < \infty $, and
when $n\geq 3$,  we use $1\leq \rho\leq \frac{n}{n-2}$.
We also assume that for
 $s\in \mathbb{R}$,
\begin{equation}
  F(s)=\int_0^sf(\sigma)\,d\sigma \geq 0  \quad \mbox{and} \quad
  G(s)=\int_0^sg(\sigma)\,d\sigma \geq 0. \label{eq2.11}
\end{equation}
Let us introduce the definition of weak solution to system
\eqref{eq1.1}--\eqref{eq1.5}.

\begin{definition} \rm
We say that the couple $(u,v)$ is a weak solution of
\eqref{eq1.1}--\eqref{eq1.5} when
$$
(u,v)\in L^\infty(0,T;V), \quad
(u_t,v_t)\in L^\infty(0,T;L^2(\Omega_1)\times L^2(\Omega_2)),
$$
and satisfies
\begin{align*}
&\int_0^T \int_{\Omega_{1}} [\rho_1 u \phi_{tt} + \gamma_1\nabla u
\nabla \phi + f(u) \phi ]\, dx\,dt \\
& +  \int_0^T \int_{\Omega_{2}} [ \rho_2 v \psi_{tt}
+\gamma_2\nabla v \nabla \psi + g(v) \psi ]\, dx\,dt \\
&=  \int_{\Omega_{1}} u_1 \phi(0) dx -  \int_{\Omega_{1}} u_0
\phi_t(0) dx +  \int_{\Omega_{2}} v_1 \psi(0) dx -
\int_{\Omega_{2}} v_0 \psi_t(0) dx \\
&\quad -\int_\Gamma \left( \frac{1}{k(0)} u_t+ a(0)u+a'* u - a(t)
u_0\right) \phi\,d\Gamma,
\end{align*}
for any $(\phi , \psi )\in C^2 (0,T;
V)$ such that
$$
\phi(T)=\phi_t (T) = \psi(T)= \psi_t(T)=0.
$$
\end{definition}
To show the existence of strong solutions we need a
regularity result for the elliptic system associated with the
problem \eqref{eq1.1}--\eqref{eq1.5}. For the reader's convenience
we recall the following result whose proof can be found in the
book by O. A. Ladyzhenskaya and N. N. Ural'tseva
\cite[Theorem 16.2]{Lad}.

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma2.4}
For any given functions $F\in L^2 (\Omega_{1} )$,
 $G \in L^2 (\Omega_{2})$, $g \in H^{1/2}(\Gamma)$,
$\gamma_1,\gamma_2 \in \mathbb{R}^{+}$, then there exists
only one solution $(u,v)$, with
$u \in  H^2(\Omega_{1})$ and $v \in H^2(\Omega_{2})$, to the
system
\begin{gather*}
 - \gamma_1\Delta u = F \quad \mbox{in}\quad \Omega_{1},\\
 - \gamma_2\Delta v = G \quad \mbox{in}\quad\Omega_{2},\\
v(x)= 0 \quad \mbox{on}\quad \Gamma_2\\
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}= g, \mbox{ on } \Gamma, \\
u(x)=v(x) \quad \mbox{on } \Gamma_{1} \\
\gamma_1 \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu} =
\gamma_2\frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu} \quad \mbox{on }
\Gamma_{1} \,.
\end{gather*}
\end{lemma}

The existence result is summarized in the following theorem.

\begin{theorem}\label{theorem2.5}
Suppose that $f$ and $g$ are $C^1$-functions satisfying
\eqref{eq2.9}--\eqref{eq2.11} and let us take
 initial data such that
$$
(u_0,v_0)\in V , \quad
(u_1,v_1) \in L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2}),\quad
 u_0=0 \mbox{on } \Gamma.
$$
Then, there exists a solution $(u,v)$ of system
\eqref{eq1.1}--\eqref{eq1.5}, such that
$$
(u,v)\in C(0,T;V)\cap C^1(0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times
L^2(\Omega_{2})).
$$
In addition, if the second-order regularity holds, that is,
$(u_0,v_0)\in H^2(\Omega_{1})\times H^2(\Omega_{2})$ and
$(u_1,v_1) \in V$,
and
\begin{gather*}
u_2:=\frac{\gamma_1}{\sigma_1} \Delta u_0- f(u_0) \in
L^2(\Omega_1)\\
v_2:=\frac{\gamma_2}{\sigma_2} \Delta u_0- g(v_0) \in
L^2(\Omega_2),
\end{gather*}
 satisfying the compatibility conditions
\begin{gather*}
\frac{\partial u_0}{\partial \nu}= - \frac{1}{k(0)}u_1- au_0\,
\mbox{ on}\, \Gamma \\
u_0=v_0\quad\mbox{and}\quad
\gamma_1\displaystyle\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}=
\gamma_2\displaystyle\frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu},
\quad \mbox{on } \Gamma_1
\end{gather*}
then there exists  a strong solution satisfying
$(u,v)$ in the space
$$
C(0,T;H^2(\Omega_{1})\times H^2(\Omega_{2}))\cap
C^1(0,T;V) \cap C^2(0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})).
$$
\end{theorem}

\begin{proof}
To show the existence of solutions we use the Galerkin
method. Let $(\varphi_i, \omega_i)$, $i=1, \dots, \infty$
 be a basis of $V$ and let us write
$$
(u^m(t),v^m(t))= \sum_{i=1}^m h_i (t) (\varphi_i, \omega_i) ,
$$
where $u^m$ and $v^m$ satisfy
\begin{equation} \label{eq2.12}
\begin{aligned}
 &\int_{\Omega_{1}} \{\rho_1 u_{tt}^m \varphi_i
+ \gamma_1\nabla u^m \nabla \varphi_i +  f(u^m) \varphi_i \} dx \\
&+ \int_{\Omega_{2}} \{\rho_2 v_{tt}^m \omega_i
+ \gamma_2\nabla v^m \nabla \omega_i + g(v^m) \omega_i \} dx  \\
&= -\int_\Gamma \left(\frac{1}{k(0)} u_t^m+a(0)u^m+a'\ast u^m-
a(t)u_0^m\right) \phi_i \,d\Gamma, \quad i=1,2,\dots,m.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
This is a $m$-dimensional system of ODEs in $h_i(t)$ and has a
local solution in $t$. With the estimates obtained below, we can
extend $u^m$ and $v^m$ to the whole interval $[0,T]$.

\subsection*{Weak Solutions} Multiplying the above equation by
$h_i'(t)$ and summing up from $i=1$ to $m$, we have
$$
\frac{d}{dt}E^m(t)=-\frac{1}{2k(0)}\int_\Gamma | u_t^m|^2
d \Gamma + \frac12a'(t)\int_\Gamma | u^m |^2 d\Gamma
- \frac 12\int_\Gamma a'' \Box u^m d\Gamma,
$$
where
\begin{align*}
E^m(t)
&= \frac{1}{2} \int_{\Omega_{1} } \{ \rho_1| u_t^m
|^2 + \gamma_1| \nabla u^m |^2 + 2 F(u^m) \} dx
+a(t)\int_\Gamma | u|^2 d\Gamma -\int_\Gamma a' \Box
u d\Gamma \\
&\quad + \frac{ 1}{2} \int_{\Omega_{2} } \{\rho_2|
v_t^m |^2 + \gamma_2| \nabla v^m |^2 + 2 G(v^m) \} dx.
\end{align*}
Then we deduce that
\begin{gather}
(u^m ,v^m)\quad \hbox{is bounded in}\quad
 L^{\infty} (0,T;H^1(\Omega_{1})\times H^1(\Omega_{2})), \label{eq2.13}
\\
(u_t^m ,v_t^m)\quad \hbox{is bounded in}\quad
 L^{\infty} (0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})),
\label{eq2.14}
\end{gather}
which imply that
\begin{gather*}
(u^m, v^m) \rightharpoonup (u,v) \quad \hbox{weakly $\star$ in }
L^{\infty} (0,T;H^1(\Omega_{1})\times H^1(\Omega_2)),\\
(u_t^m,v_t^m)  \rightharpoonup (u_t,v_t) \quad \hbox{weakly $\star$ in }
L^{\infty} (0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})).
\end{gather*}
Application of the Lions-Aubin's Lemma
\cite[Theorem 5.1]{Lions2}, we have
\[
(u^m,v^m) \rightarrow (u,v) \quad \hbox{strongly in }
L^{2} (0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})),
\]
 and consequently
\begin{gather*}
u^m \rightarrow u \quad  \hbox{a.e. in} \; \Omega_{1}
\quad \hbox{and} \quad  f(u^m) \rightarrow f(u) \quad \hbox{a.e.
in} \; \Omega_{1},
\\
v^m \rightarrow v \quad  \hbox{a.e. in} \; \Omega_{2} \quad
\hbox{and} \quad  g(v^m) \rightarrow g(v) \quad \hbox{a.e. in} \;
\Omega_{2}.
\end{gather*}
 From the growth condition \eqref{eq2.9}, we have
\begin{gather*}
f(u^m) \quad \hbox{is bounded in } L^{\infty} (0,T;L^{2}(\Omega_{1})),\\
g(v^m) \quad \hbox{is bounded in }  L^{\infty} (0,T;L^{2}(\Omega_{2}));
\end{gather*}
therefore,
\begin{gather*}
 f(u^m) \rightharpoonup f(u) \quad
\mbox{weakly in } L^{2} (0,T;L^{2}(\Omega_{1})),
\\
g(v^m) \rightharpoonup g(v)\quad \mbox{weakly in } L^{2}
(0,T;L^{2}(\Omega_{2})).
\end{gather*}
The rest of the proof of the existence
of weak solution is a matter of routine.

\subsection*{Strong Solutions} To show the
regularity we take a basis of such that
$(u_0,v_0)$ and $(u_1,v_1)$ are in $B=\{(\phi_i,w_i), i \in \mathbb{N}\}$.
Therefore,
$$
u_0^m=u_0,\quad v_0^m=v_0,\quad u_1^m=u_1,\quad
v_1^m=v_1, \quad \forall m.
$$
Differentiate the approximate
equation and multiply by $h_{i}''(t)$. Using a
similar argument as before, we obtain
\begin{equation}\label{eq2.15}
 \frac{d}{dt}E_2^m(t) \leq  \int_{\Omega_{1} } |
f'(u^m)| u_t^m u_{tt}^m dx+ \int_{\Omega_{2} } |
g'(v^m)| v_t^m v_{tt}^m dx ,
\end{equation}
where
\begin{equation}\label{eq2.16}
\begin{aligned}
E_2^m(t)&=\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega_{1} } \rho_1| u_{tt}^m
|^2 + \gamma_1| \nabla u^m_t |^2 \,dx
 + \frac{1}{2} \int_{\Omega_{2} } \rho_2| v_{tt}^m |^2
 + \gamma_2| \nabla v^m_t |^2 \,dx \\
&\quad +\frac{1}{2} a(t)\int_\Gamma | u_t^m |^2 \,d\Gamma +
\frac{1}{2}\int_\Gamma a' \Box u_t^m \,d\Gamma.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Note that $E^m_2(0)$ is bounded, in fact is constant, because of
our choice of the basis. Let us estimate the right hand side of
\eqref{eq2.16}. From \eqref{eq2.10} we have
\begin{align*}
&\int_{\Omega_1} | f'(u^m)u^m_tu_{tt}^m | \, dx \\
&\leq  \frac{C_1}{2} \int_{\Omega_1} | u^m |^{2(\rho-1)}| u^m_t |^2 \,dx
+ \frac{C_2}{2} \int_{\Omega_1} | u^m_t |^{2}\,dx +
\frac{C_1+C_2}{2} \int_{\Omega_1} | u^m_{tt} |^{2}\,dx .
\end{align*}
But since $(\rho-1) \leq 2/(n-2)$ and $ \frac{1}{r} + \frac{1}{s}
=1$ with $ r= n/2 $ and $s=n/(n-2)$, we see that
$$
\int_{\Omega_1} | u^m |^{2(\rho -1)}| u^m_t |^2
\,dx \leq \Big( \int_{\Omega_1} | u^m   |^{2^{\ast}} dx
\Big)^{1/r} \Big( \int_{\Omega_1} | u^m_t |^{2^{\ast}}
dx \Big)^{1/s},
$$
where $2^{\ast} = 2n/(n-2)$. Then from Sobolev imbeddings and
\eqref{eq2.13} there exists a constant $C>0$ such that
$$
\int_{\Omega_1} | u^m |^{2(\rho-1)}| u^m_t |^2
\,dx \leq C + C \int_{\Omega_1} | \nabla u^m_t |^{2} \,
dx.
$$
It follows that
$$
\int_{\Omega_1} | f'(u^m)u^m_tu_{tt}^m | \, dx \leq C + C
\int_{\Omega_1} \{ | u^m_{tt} |^{2} + | \nabla u^m_t
|^2 \}\,dx ,
$$
and similarly
$$
\int_{\Omega_2} | g'(v^m) v^m_t v_{tt}^m | \, dx \leq C +
C \int_{\Omega_2} \{ | v^m_{tt} |^{2} + | \nabla v^m_t
|^2 \}\,dx .
$$
Hence, from \eqref{eq2.15} and the Gronwall inequality we
conclude that
\begin{gather*}
(u_t^m ,v_t^m)\quad \hbox{is bounded in}\quad L^{\infty}
(0,T;H^1(\Omega_{1})\times H^1(\Omega_{2})),
\\
(u_{tt}^m ,v_{tt}^m)\quad \hbox{is bounded in}\quad L^{\infty}
(0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})),
\end{gather*}
 which imply that
\begin{gather*}
(u^m_t,v^m_t) \rightharpoonup (u_t,v_t)
\quad \hbox{weakly $\ast$ in} \quad L^{\infty}
(0,T;H^1(\Omega_{1})\times H^1(\Omega_{2})),\\
(u_{tt}^m, v_{tt}^m)  \rightharpoonup (u_{tt},v_{tt})
 \quad \hbox{weakly $\ast$ in} \quad
L^{\infty} (0,T;L^2(\Omega_{1})\times L^2(\Omega_{2})).
\end{gather*}
Therefore, $(u,v)$ satisfies \eqref{eq1.1}-\eqref{eq1.5}.
Moreover
$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}=- \frac{1}{k(0)} u_t - a(0)u -
a' \ast  u + a(t) u_0.
$$
Integrating by parts,
$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}= -\frac{1}{k(0)}u_t-a\ast u_t.
$$
Since $u_t$ is bounded in
$H^1(\Omega_1)$,
$\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu} \in H^{\frac{1}{2}}(\Gamma)$.
So we have
\begin{gather*}
- \gamma_1\Delta u = u_{tt}- f(u) \in L^2(\Omega_1),\\
- \gamma_2\Delta v = v_{tt}- g(v) \in L^2(\Omega_2)\\
u=v \quad\mbox{and} \quad  \gamma_1 \frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu}= \gamma_2\frac{\partial v}{\partial
\nu}\quad \mbox{in } \Gamma_1\\
v=0 \quad \mbox{in } \Gamma_2,\quad
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}\in H^{1/2}(\Gamma).
\end{gather*}
Then using Lemma \ref{lemma2.4} we have the required regularity to
$(u,v)$.
\end{proof}

\section{Asymptotic behavior}

 In this section we prove that the
solution decay exponentially as time approaches infinity.
First, we need some preliminaries results.


\begin{lemma}\label{lemma3.1}
Suppose that the initial data satisfies the second order
regularity as in Theorem \ref{theorem2.5}, then
\[
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=-\frac{1}{k(0)}\int_{\Gamma }|u_{t}|^{2}\,d\Gamma
+\frac{a'(t)}{2}\int_{\Gamma }|u|^{2}\,d\Gamma
-\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Gamma }a^{\prime \prime }\Box u\,d\Gamma,
\]
where
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
E(t)&=\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega _{1}}\rho _{1}|u_{t}|^{2}+\gamma
_{1}|\nabla u|^{2}+2F(u)dx+\gamma_{1}\int_{\Gamma }a(t)|u|^{2}\,
-a'\Box u \, d\Gamma
 \\
&\quad +\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega _{2}}\rho _{2}|v_{t}|^{2}+\gamma
_{2}|\nabla v|^{2}+2G(v)dx .
\end{aligned}\label{eq3.1}
\end{equation}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
Multiply by $u_t$ equation \eqref{eq1.1} and by $v_t$ equation
\eqref{eq1.2}, summing up and using identity \eqref{eq2.3}  and
Lemma \ref{lemma2.1} we get the result.
\end{proof}

Let  $f$ and $g$ be such that
\begin{gather}%\label{hipFG}
 0\leq
F(s):=\int_0^s f(t)dt \leq \frac{1}{m+1} s f(s),\label{eq3.2}\\
0\leq G(s):=\int_0^s g(t)dt\leq \frac{1}{l+1}
s g(s),\label{eq3.3}\\
F(s) \leq G(s)\label{eq3.4}
\end{gather}
 where $l,m>1$. Note that odd polynomials  satisfy
 \eqref{eq3.2}-\eqref{eq3.3}. Let
\begin{equation}\label{eq3.5}
\delta < \min\{\frac{l-1}{l+1}n, \frac{m-1}{m+1}n,1\}
\end{equation}
and
$$
J_0(t)= \int_{\Omega_1} \rho_1 u_t q \cdot \nabla u \,dx +
\int_{\Omega_2}\rho_2 v_t q \cdot \nabla v \,dx.
$$

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma3.2}
Under the  hypothesis of Lemma \ref{lemma3.1},
consider $q(x)=x-x_0\in C^{1}(\overline{\Omega })$,
$\gamma_1> \gamma_2$ and $\rho_1>\rho_2$.
Then any strong solution of
\eqref{eq1.1}--\eqref{eq1.5} satisfies
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}J_0(t) &\leq \gamma_1 \int_\Gamma \frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu} q \cdot \nabla u \,dx-
\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_\Gamma q \cdot \nu | \nabla u
|^2\,dx + \frac{\rho_1}{2} \int_\Gamma q \cdot \nu | u_t
|^2 \,d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \frac n2\int_{\Omega_1}\rho_1 | u_t|^2 - \gamma_1
| u |^2 dx+ n
\int_{\Omega_1}F(u)dx-\gamma_1\int_{\Omega_1} | \nabla u
|^2\,dx\\
&\quad -\frac n2\int_{\Omega_2}\rho_2 | v_t|^2 - \gamma_2 |
\nabla v |^2 \,dx+ n \int_{\Omega_2} G(v)\,dx-
\gamma_2\int_{\Omega_2}| \nabla v|^2 dx.
\end{align*}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof} Using equation \eqref{eq1.1},
\begin{align*}
&\frac{d}{dt}\int_{\Omega_1} \rho_1 u_t q_k \frac{\partial
u}{\partial x_k} dx \\
&= \int_{\Omega_1}\rho_1 u_{tt}q_k
\frac{\partial u}{\partial x_k}dx+
\int_{\Omega_1}\rho_1 u_t q_k \frac{\partial u_t }{\partial x_k} dx \\
&=\int_{\Omega_1} \gamma_1 \Delta u q_k \frac{\partial
u}{\partial x_k}dx- \int_{\Omega_1}f(u) q_k \frac{\partial
u}{\partial x_k}dx+ \frac{\rho_1}{2} \int_{\Omega_1}  q_k
\frac{\partial | u_t|^2}{\partial x_k}dx
\\
&= \gamma_1\int_{\partial \Omega_{1}}\frac{\partial u}{\partial
\nu}q_k \frac{
\partial u}{\partial x_k}d\Gamma- \frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\partial {\Omega_{1}}} q_k
\nu_k | \nabla u |^2 d\Gamma + \frac{\gamma_1}{2} \int_{
\Omega_1} \frac{\partial q_k}{\partial x_k} | \nabla u |^2 dx\\
&\quad - \int_{\partial \Omega_{1}}F(u) q_k\nu_k d\Gamma+
\int_{\Omega_1}F(u)\frac{
\partial q_k}{\partial x_k} dx + \frac{\rho_1}{2} \int_{\partial \Omega_{1}}
q_k\nu_k| u_t|^2 d\Gamma \\
&\quad - \frac{\rho_1}{2}  \int_{\Omega_{1}} \frac{\partial
q_k}{\partial x_k} | u_t|^2 dx - \gamma_1
\int_{\Omega_{1}} \nabla u \cdot \nabla q_k \frac{\partial
u}{\partial x_k} dx.
\end{align*}
So we have,
\begin{equation}\label{eq3.6}
\begin{aligned}
\frac{d}{dt}\int_{\Omega _{1}}\rho _{1}u_{t}q_{k}\frac{\partial
u}{\partial x_{k}}dx
&=\gamma _{1}\int_{\partial \Omega_1
}\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }q_{k} \frac{\partial u}{\partial
x_{k}}d\Gamma-\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\partial
\Omega_1 }q_{k} \nu_{k}|\nabla u|^{2}d\Gamma  \\
&\quad -\int_{\partial \Omega_1 }q_k \nu_k F(u)d\Gamma +\frac{\rho
_{1}}{2}\int_{\partial \Omega_1 }q_k \nu_k |u_{t}|^{2}d\Gamma  \\
&\quad -\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega _{1}}\frac{\partial q_{k}}{\partial
 x_{k}}\left\{ \rho _{1}|u_{t}|^{2}-\gamma _{1}|\nabla
 u|^{2}\right\} dx\\
&\quad +\int_{\Omega _{1}}F(u)\frac{\partial
 q_k}{\partial x_k}dx
-\gamma _{1}\int_{\Omega _{1}}\nabla u\cdot\nabla
 q_{k}\frac{\partial u}{\partial x_{k}}dx.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Similarly using equation \eqref{eq1.2}, we obtain
\begin{equation}\label{eq3.7}
\begin{aligned}
\frac{d}{dt}\int_{\Omega _{2}}\rho _{2}v_{t}q_{k}
 \frac{\partial v}{\partial x_{k}} dx
&=-\gamma _{2}\int_{\partial\Omega_2}\frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu }q_{k}
 \frac{\partial v}{\partial x_{k}}d\Gamma+\frac{\gamma_{2}}{2}\int_{\partial\Omega_2}q_k \nu_k |\nabla v|^{2}d\Gamma  \\
&\quad +\int_{\Gamma _{1}}q_k \nu_k G(v)d\Gamma
 -\frac{\rho_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_{1}}q_k \nu_k|v_{t}|^{2}d\Gamma  \\
&\quad -\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega _{2}}\frac{\partial q_{k}}{\partial x_{k}}\left\{
 \rho _{2}|v_{t}|^{2}-\gamma _{2}|\nabla v|^{2}\right\} dx  \\
&\quad +\int_{\Omega _{2}}\frac{\partial q_{k}}{\partial
 x_{k}}G(v)dx-\gamma _{2}\int_{\Omega _{2}}\nabla v\cdot \nabla
 q_{k}\frac{\partial v}{\partial x_{k}}dx.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Using that $\nabla u = \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}\nu +
\nabla_\tau u$ and  $v=0$ on $\Gamma_2$ we have from \eqref{eq3.6}
and \eqref{eq3.7} that
\begin{align*}
&\frac{d}{dt}J_0(t)\\
&= \gamma_1 \int_\Gamma \frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu}q \cdot \nabla u \, d\Gamma -
\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q \cdot \nu | \nabla u
|^2\,d \Gamma + \frac{\rho_1}{2} \int_{\Gamma_1} q \cdot \nu
| u_t |^2 \, d \Gamma \\
&\quad +
\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1}\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }
q \cdot \nabla_\tau u\, d\Gamma -
\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1} q\cdot \nu | \nabla_\tau u
|^2 \, d \Gamma+ \frac{\rho_1}{2}\int_\Gamma q \cdot \nu |
u_t |^2\,
d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \int_{\partial \Omega_1} q \cdot \nu F(u) \, d\Gamma-
\frac{\gamma_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1} q \cdot \nu |
\frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu}|^2 \, d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \gamma_2 \int_{\Gamma_1}\frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu} q\cdot
\nabla_\tau v \, dx + \frac{\gamma_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1} q \cdot
\nu | \nabla_\tau v |^2 \,d\Gamma\\
&\quad +\int_{\Gamma_1} q \cdot \nu G(v) \, d\Gamma
+\frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1}q\cdot \nu |
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}|^2 \,d\Gamma\\
&\quad -\frac{\rho_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_1} | v_t |^2 q \cdot \nu
 \,d\Gamma+ \frac{\gamma_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_2} q\cdot \nu |
 \frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu}|^2 d\Gamma
-\frac{1}{2}\int_{\Omega_1}\frac{\partial q_k}{\partial
x_k}(\rho_1 | u_t |^2 - \gamma_1 | \nabla u |^2)\,
dx\\
&\quad + \int_{\Omega_1} F(u) \frac{\partial q_k}{\partial x_k}
 dx-\gamma_1\int_{\Omega_1} \nabla u \cdot \nabla q_k
 \frac{\partial u}{\partial x_k} dx
- \frac12\int_{\Omega_2}\frac{\partial q_k}{\partial x_k}(\gamma_2
| v_t|^2 - \rho_2| \nabla v |^2) dx\\
&\quad +\int_{\Omega_2}G(v) \frac{\partial q_k}{\partial x_k} dx
-\gamma_2\int_{\Omega_2}\nabla v \cdot \nabla q_k
\frac{\partial v}{\partial x_k}\,dx.
\end{align*}
Since $u=v$ in $\Gamma_1$ then $\nabla_\tau u= \nabla_\tau v$ in
$\Gamma_1$; therefore,
\begin{align*}
&\frac{d}{dt}J_0(t)\\
&= \gamma_1 \int_\Gamma \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}q
 \cdot \nabla u \, d\Gamma -
 \frac{\gamma_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q \cdot \nu | \nabla u
 |^2\,d \Gamma + \frac{\rho_1}{2} \int_\Gamma q \cdot \nu |
 u_t |^2 \, d \Gamma \\
&\quad + \frac{\gamma_1}{2}\big(\frac{\gamma_1-\gamma_2}{\gamma_2}\big)
\int_{\Gamma_1}|\frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu }|^2 q \cdot \nu\, d\Gamma -
\big(\frac{\gamma_1-\gamma_2}{2}\big)\int_{\Gamma_1} q\cdot \nu
| \nabla_\tau u |^2 \, d \Gamma\\
&\quad +
\big(\frac{\rho_1-\rho_2}{2}\big)\int_{\Gamma_1} q \cdot \nu
| u_t |^2\, d\Gamma- \int_{\Gamma} q \cdot \nu F(u) \,
d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \int_{\Gamma_1}q\cdot  \nu [ F(u)-G(u) ]\,d\Gamma
 +\frac{\gamma_2}{2}\int_{\Gamma_2} q \cdot \nu  |
 \frac{\partial v}{\partial \nu}|^2 d\Gamma\\
&\quad -\frac{n}{2}\int_{\Omega_1}\rho_1 | u_t |^2 - \gamma_1
  | \nabla u |^2\, dx+ n\int_{\Omega_1} F(u)  dx\\
&\quad -\gamma_1\int_{\Omega_1} |\nabla u|^2\,dx-
\frac{n}{2}\int_{\Omega_2}\rho_2 | v_t |^2 - \gamma_2
| \nabla v|^2dx +n\int_{\Omega_2} G(v) dx-
\gamma_2\int_{\Omega_2} | \nabla v |^2 dx.
\end{align*}
Using that $(x-x_0)\cdot \nu >0$ in $\Gamma$ then we conclude our
proof. \end{proof}

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma3.3}
Under the hypothesis in Lemma \ref{lemma3.1},
\begin{align*}
 &\frac{d}{dt}\big\{ \int_{\Omega_{1}}\rho _{1}uu_{t}dx
 +\int_{\Omega _{2}}\rho _{2}v_{t}vdx\big\}\\
&=\int_{\Omega _{1}}\rho _{1}| u_{t}| ^{2}-\gamma
_{1}|\nabla u|^{2}dx +\gamma_1\int_{\Gamma}\frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu}ud\Gamma\\
&\quad -\int_{\Omega_1}f(u)u dx
+\int_{\Omega_ 2}\rho _{2}| v_{t}| ^{2}-\gamma_{2}|\nabla v|^{2}dx
-\int_{\Omega_2}g(v)v dx .
\end{align*}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
Multiply \eqref{eq1.1} by $u$ and \eqref{eq1.2} by $v$ and
summing up the product the our result follows.
\end{proof}

 Let us define the functional
\[
\Phi (t)=J_0(t)+\big( \frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)
 \big[\int_{\Omega _{1}}\rho _{1}uu_{t}dx+\int_{\Omega _{2}}\rho
_{2}v_{t}vdx\big]
\]
where we consider $q(x)=x-x_0$ as before.


\begin{lemma}\label{lemma3.4}
Under the  hypotheses of Lemmas \ref{lemma3.1} and \ref{lemma3.2},
there exists a positive constant $\delta_0$ such that
\[
\frac{d}{dt} \Phi(t) \leq C\int_\Gamma \big|\frac{
\partial u} {\partial \nu}\big|^2 d \Gamma +
\big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\gamma_1\int_\Gamma u
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }d\Gamma -  \delta_{0}
E_{0}(t)
+\frac{\rho_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q\cdot\nu |u_t|^2d\Gamma,
\]
where
$$
E_0(t)= \frac12\int_{\Omega_1} \rho_1 | u_t |^2 + \gamma_1
| \nabla u |^2 + F(u) dx + \frac12\int_{\Omega_2} \rho_2
| v_t |^2 + \gamma_2 | \nabla v |^2 +G(v) dx.
$$
\end{lemma}


\begin{proof}
 From Lemma \ref{lemma3.2} and Lemma \ref{lemma3.3} we have,
\begin{align*}
&\frac{d}{dt}\Phi(t) \\
&\leq C\int_\Gamma \big| \frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu}\big|^2 d\Gamma -\frac{\delta}{2}
\Big[\int_{\Omega_1} \rho_1 | u_t |^2 + \gamma_1 | \nabla u
|^2 dx + \int_{\Omega_2} \rho_2 | v_t
|^2 + \gamma_2 | \nabla v |^2 dx\Big]\\
&\quad +n\int_{\Omega_1}F(u) dx\ + n\int_{\Omega_2}G(v) dx
 -\big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\int_{\Omega_1} f(u) u dx \\
&\quad -\big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\int_{\Omega_2} g(v) v dx
 +\big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\gamma_{1}\int_{\Gamma}\frac{\partial
u}{\partial \nu}u d\Gamma
+\frac{\rho_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q\cdot\nu|u_t|^2d\Gamma.
\end{align*}
Using the hypotheses on $F$ and $G$, we obtain
\begin{align*}
n \int_{\Omega_1} F(u) dx - \frac{n-\delta}{2}\int_{\Omega_1}f(u)u
dx&\leq \Big( \frac{n}{m+1}-
\frac{n-\delta}{2}\Big)\int_{\Omega_1}f(u)u dx\\
&\leq -\alpha \int_{\Omega_1}f(u)u dx,
\end{align*}
where by our assumption on $\delta$ we have that $\alpha>0$.
Similarly
\[
n \int_{\Omega_2} G(v) dx - \frac{n-\delta}{2}\int_{\Omega_2}g(v)v
dx \leq -\beta \int_{\Omega_2}g(v)v dx.
\]
 From where it follows that
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\Phi(t)
&\leq \gamma_1\int_{\Gamma}
|\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}|^2 d\Gamma+
\big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\gamma_1\int_{\Gamma} u
\frac{\partial u }{\partial
\nu}d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \frac{\delta}{2} \Big[\int_{\Omega_1} \rho_1 | u |^2
+ \gamma_1 | \nabla u |^2 dx + \int_{\Omega_2} \rho_2
| v_t |^2 + \gamma_2 | \nabla v |^2 dx\Big]\\
&\quad -\alpha\int_{\Omega_1} u f(u) dx
- \beta \int_{\Omega_2} v g(v) dx
 +\frac{\rho_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q\cdot\nu|u_t|^2d\Gamma,
\end{align*}
which implies that for $\delta_0=\min \left\{\frac{\delta}{2},
\alpha(m+1), \beta(l+1)\right\}$, we have
\[
\frac{d}{dt}\Phi(t)
\leq \gamma_1\int_{\Gamma}|\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}|^2
d\Gamma  + \left(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\right)\gamma_1\int_{\Gamma} u
\frac{\partial u }{\partial \nu}d\Gamma - \delta_0 E_0(t)
+\frac{\rho_1}{2}\int_{\Gamma}q\cdot\nu|u_t|^2d\Gamma .
\]
\end{proof}

\begin{theorem}\label{theorem3.5}
With  hypotheses in
Lemma \ref{lemma3.2}, there exists a positive
constants such that any strong solution satisfies
$$
E(t)\leq C E(0) \exp(-\delta_1 t),
$$
provided \eqref{eq2.4}-\eqref{eq2.5} holds.
\end{theorem}

\begin{proof}
Note that from \eqref{eq1.3} and \eqref{eq2.8} we have
$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}= - \frac{1}{k(0)}u_t- a(t) u -
a'\diamondsuit u
$$
from where it follows
$$
| \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}|^2\leq
2\big\{\frac{1}{k^2(0)} | u_t|^2 + a^2(t)| u |^2
+ | a' \diamondsuit u |^2 \big\}.
$$
Since
$$
| a' \diamondsuit u |^2
= \Big| \int_0^t a' (t-s) \{ u(s)-u(t) \} ds \Big|^2
\leq \Big(\int_0^t |a'(t-s)| ds\Big)| a'| \Box u.
$$
 From this inequality and
\eqref{eq2.5} it follows that
\begin{equation}\label{eq3.8}
\left | \frac{\partial u }{\partial \nu}\right|^2 \leq k_0
\{| u_t|^2 + a(t)| u |^2 + a' \Box u\}.
\end{equation}
On the other hand,
\begin{equation} \label{eq3.9}
\begin{aligned}
\big| \int_\Gamma u \frac{\partial u }{\partial \nu
}d\Gamma\big|
&\leq \Big( \int_\Gamma | u|^2d\Gamma\Big)^{1/2}\Big( \int_\Gamma
\big| \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }\big|^2 d\Gamma
\Big)^{1/2}\\
&\leq \delta_1\int_\Gamma |u|^2 d\Gamma
+ C_{\delta_1}\int_{\Gamma}\{|u_t|^2 + a(t)| u
|^2 + a' \Box u\}d\Gamma\\
&\leq \delta_1\int_\Gamma | u |^2 d\Gamma+
C\int_{\Gamma}\{| u_t|^2 + | u |^2 + a' \Box u\}d\Gamma.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Since $$\int_\Gamma | u |^2 \,d\Gamma \leq C\int_\Omega
| \nabla u |^2 + | \nabla v |^2 \,dx,$$
 we have that
$\mathcal{L}(t) = NE(t) + \Phi(t)$ satisfies
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)
&\leq -\frac{N\gamma_1
}{k(0)}\int_\Gamma | u_t |^2d\Gamma +\frac{
N\gamma_{1}a'(t)}{2}\int_\Gamma | u |^2
d\Gamma -\frac{N\gamma_1 }{2}\int_\Gamma a''\Box u d\Gamma\\
&\quad + C\int_\Gamma  \big| \frac{\partial u }{\partial
\nu}\big|^2 d\Gamma
+ \big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\gamma_1
\int_\Gamma u \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }d\Gamma \\
 &\quad  - \frac{\delta_0}{2}E_{0}(t)
+\rho_1\int_\Gamma q\cdot\nu |u_t|^2 d\Gamma.
\end{align*}
Using \eqref{eq4.2} and \eqref{eq4.3} we conclude that
\begin{equation}
\begin{gathered}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)\leq -\big(\frac{N\gamma_1
}{k(0)}-C_{2}\big)\int_\Gamma | u_t |^2d\Gamma
-\big(\frac{N\gamma_1 }{2}-C_{2}\big) \int_\Gamma
a''\Box u d\Gamma- \frac{\delta_0}{2}E_{0}(t)
\\
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)\leq -\frac{\delta_0}{2}E(t) \leq -c
\mathcal{L}(t).
\end{gathered}\label{eq3.10}
\end{equation}
from where our conclusion follows.
\end{proof}
We remark that standard density arguments, the above result is also
valid for weak solutions.
\section{Polynomial rate of decay}

Here our attention turns to the uniform rate of decay
when $k$ decays polynomially as $(1+t)^{-p}$. In this case we
will show that the solution also decays polynomially with the same
rate. Let us consider the following hypotheses:
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.1}
\begin{gathered}
0 < a(t) \leq b_{0} (1+t)^{-p}, \\
-b_{1}a^{1+\frac{1}{p}}(t)\leq a'(t)
\leq -b_{2}a^{1+\frac{1}{p}}(t), \\
b_{3}[-a'(t)]^{1+\frac{1}{p+1}}\leq a''(t)
\leq b_{4}[-a'(t)]^{1+\frac{1}{p+1}},
\end{gathered}
\end{equation}
where $p>1$ and $b_{i}>0$ for $i=0,\dots,4$.
The following lemmas will play an important role in the sequel.

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma4.1}
Let $m$ and $h$ be integrable functions, $0 \leq r < 1$ and  $q>0$.
 Then, for $t \ge 0$,
\begin{align*}
&\int^{t}_{0}|m(t-s)h(s)|ds \\
&\leq \Big(\int^{t}_{0}|m(t-s)|^{1+\frac{1-
r}{q}}|h(s)|ds\Big)^{q/(q+1)}
 \Big(\int^{t}_{0}|m(t-s)|^{r}|h(s)|ds\Big)^{1/(q+1)}.
\end{align*}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof} Let
\[
v(s):=|m(t-s)|^{1- \frac{r}{q+1}} |h(s)|^{\frac{q}{q+1}}, \quad
w(s):=|m(t-s)|^{\frac{r}{q+1}} |h(s)|^{\frac{1}{q+1}}.
\]
Applying H\"{o}lder's inequality to $|m(s)h(s)|=v(s)w(s)$ with
exponents $\delta= q/(q+1)$ for $v$ and $\delta^{*}=q+1$ for
$w$ our conclusion follows.
\end{proof}

\begin{lemma}\label{lemma4.2}
Let $\phi\in L^\infty(0,T;L^2(\Gamma))$. Then, for $p>1$, $0 \leq r < 1$
and $t\ge0$, we have
\begin{align*}
&\big(\int_{\Gamma }|a'| \Box \phi d \Gamma
\Big)^{\frac{1+(1-r)(p+1)}{(1-r)(p+1)}}\\
&\leq  2
\Big(\int^{t}_{0}|a'(s)|^{r}ds \|\phi \|^{2}_{L^{\infty}(0,t;
L^{2}(\Gamma ))}\Big)^ {\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}}
\int_{\Gamma }|a'|^{1+ \frac{1}{p+1}} \Box \phi \,d \Gamma ,
\end{align*}
while for $r=0$ we get
\begin{align*}
& \Big(\int_{\Gamma{1}} |a'| \Box \phi d \Gamma \Big)^{\frac{p+2}{p+1}}\\
& \leq 2 \Big(\int^{t}_{0}\|\phi (s,.)\|^{2}_{L^{2}(\Gamma )} ds
+ t \|\phi (s,.)\|^{2}_{L^{2}(\Gamma )}\Big)^{p+1}
\int_{\Gamma}|a'|^{1+ \frac{1}{p+1}} \Box \phi \,d \Gamma.
\end{align*}
\end{lemma}

\begin{proof}
The above inequalities are a immediate consequence of Lemma
\ref{lemma4.1} taking
\[
m(s) :  = |a'(s)| , \quad
h(s) :  =  \int_{\Gamma }|\phi(t,x) - \phi_(s,x)|^{2} d \Gamma , \quad
q:  =  (1-r)(p+1).
\]
This concludes our assertion. \end{proof}

\begin{theorem}\label{theorem4.4}
With the hypotheses in Lemma \ref{lemma3.1} and Lemma
\ref{lemma3.2}, if the resolvent kernel $a(t)$ satisfies condition
\eqref{eq4.1}, then there is a positive constant $c$ such that
\begin{eqnarray*}
E(t) \leq \frac{c}{(1+t)^{p+1}}E(0).
\end{eqnarray*}
\end{theorem}


\begin{proof}
Note that from \eqref{eq1.3} and \eqref{eq2.8} we have
$$
\frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}= - \frac{1}{k(0)}u_t- a(t) u -
a'\diamondsuit u
$$
from which it follows
$$
| \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu}|^2\leq
2\big\{\frac{1}{a^2(0)} | u_t|^2 + a^2(t)| u |^2
+ | a' \diamondsuit u |^2 \big\}.
$$
Since
$$
| a' \diamondsuit u |^2 = \Big| \int_0^t
a' (t-s) \{ u(s)-u(t) \} ds \Big|^2
\leq \Big(\int_0^t |a'(t-s)|^{1-\frac1p} ds\Big) [-a']^{1+\frac1p} \Box u,
$$
and \eqref{eq2.5}, it follows that
\begin{equation}
\label{eq4.2}
\left | \frac{\partial u }{\partial \nu}\right|^2 \leq k_0
\{| u_t|^2 + [-a']^{1+\frac1p} (t)| u |^2 + [-a']^{1+\frac1p}  \Box u\}.
\end{equation}
On the other hand,
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.3}
\begin{aligned}
\Big| \int_\Gamma u \frac{\partial u }{\partial \nu
}d\Gamma\Big|
&\leq \Big( \int_\Gamma |u|^2d\Gamma\Big)^{1/2}
\Big( \int_\Gamma \big| \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }\big|^2 d\Gamma
\Big)^{1/2}\\
&\leq \delta_1\int_\Gamma |u|^2 d\Gamma + \delta_1\int_{\Gamma}
\big\{|u_t|^2 + [-a']^{1+\frac1p} (t)| u
|^2 + [-a']^{1+\frac1p}  \Box u\big\}d\Gamma\\
&\leq C\int_{\Gamma}\big\{| u_t|^2 + | u |^2 +
[-a']^{1+\frac1p}  \Box u\big\}d\Gamma.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
Since
$$
\int_\Gamma | u |^2 \,d\Gamma \leq C\int_\Omega
| \nabla u |^2 + | \nabla v |^2 \,dx,
$$
we have
$\mathcal{L}(t) = NE(t) + \Phi(t)$ which satisfies
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)
&\leq -\frac{N\gamma_1}{k(0)}\int_\Gamma | u_t |^2d\Gamma
+\frac{N\gamma_{1}a'(t)}{2}\int_\Gamma | u |^2
d\Gamma -\frac{N\gamma_1 }{2}\int_\Gamma [-a']^{1+\frac1p}
 \Box u d\Gamma\\
&\quad +C\int_\Gamma [-a']^{1+\frac1p}  \Box ud\Gamma
+ C\int_\Gamma  \big| \frac{\partial u }{\partial
\nu}\big|^2 d\Gamma + \big(\frac{n-\delta}{2}\big)\gamma_1
\int_\Gamma u \frac{\partial u}{\partial \nu }d\Gamma \\
&\quad - \frac{\delta_0}{2}E_{0}(t)
+\rho_1\int_\Gamma q\cdot\nu |u_t|^2 d\Gamma.
\end{align*}
Using \eqref{eq4.2} and \eqref{eq4.3}, we conclude that
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)
&\leq -\big(\frac{N\gamma_1}{k(0)}-C_{2}\big)
\int_\Gamma | u_t |^2d\Gamma
-\big(\frac{N\gamma_1 }{2}-C_{2}\big) \int_\Gamma
[-a']^{1+\frac{1}{p}}\Box u d\Gamma\\
&\quad - \frac{\delta_0}{2}E_{0}(t),
\end{aligned}\label{eq4.4}
\end{equation}
from where we have that for $N$ large enough we get
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.5}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L}(t)
\leq -\frac{N\gamma_1}{2k(0)}\int_\Gamma | u_t |^2d\Gamma
-\frac{N\gamma_1}{4}\int_\Gamma [-a']^{1+\frac{1}{p}}\Box u d\Gamma-
\frac{\delta_0}{2}E_{0}(t).
\end{equation}
Let us fix $0<r<1$ such that $ \frac{1}{p+1}<r<\frac{p}{p+1}$. In
this condition from hypothesis \eqref{eq4.1} we have
\[
\int^{\infty}_{0}[-a']^{r} \leq c \int^{\infty}_{0}\frac{1}
{(1+t)^{r(p+1)}} < \infty \quad\mbox{for }i=1,2,3,4.
\]
Using this estimate in Lemma \ref{lemma4.2},
\begin{equation}
\int_{\Gamma }[-a']^{1+\frac{1}{p+1}}\Box u d \Gamma
\ge cE(0)^{-\frac{1}{(1- r)(p+1)}}\Big(\int_{\Gamma }[-a'] \Box u
d \Gamma \Big)^{1+\frac{1}{(1- r)(p+1)}},\label{eq4.6}
\end{equation}
On the other hand, since the energy is bounded we have
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.7}
 E(t)^{1+ \frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}} \leq c E(0)^{\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}}E(t).
\end{equation}
Substitutinn  \eqref{eq4.6}-\eqref{eq4.7} in \eqref{eq4.5}, we
arrive to
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L} (t)
&\leq  - cE(0)^{-\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}} E(t)^{1+\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}}  \\
&\quad -cE(0)^{-\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}}
\Big(\int_{\Gamma }[-a'] \Box u d \Gamma \Big)^{1+\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}} .
\end{align*}
Since there exists positive constants satisfying
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.8}
c_0{ E}(t)\leq \mathcal{L}(t)\leq c_1{E}(t),
\end{equation}
we obtain
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.9}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal{L} (t) \leq -\frac{c}{\mathcal{L} (0)
^{\frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}}} \mathcal{L} (t)^{1+ \frac{1}{(1-r)(p+1)}} .
\end{equation}
Therefore, using a Gronwall's type argument we conclude that
\begin{equation}\label{eq4.10}
\mathcal{L} (t) \leq \frac{c}{(1+t)^{(1-r)(p+1)}}\mathcal{L}(0).
\end{equation}
Since $(1-r)(p+1)>1$ we get, for $t\geq 0$, the following bounds
\begin{gather*}
t\|u(t,.)\|^{2}_{L^{2}(\Gamma )}  \leq c t \mathcal{L}
(t) \leq \infty,\\
\int^{t}_{0}\|u(s,.)\|^{2}_{L^{2}(\Gamma )} \leq c
\int^{\infty}_{0} \mathcal{L} (t) \leq \infty.
\end{gather*}
Using the above estimates in Lemma \ref{lemma4.2} with $r=0$, we
get
\[
\int_{\Gamma }[-a']^{1+\frac{1}{p+1}}\Box u d \Gamma
\ge \frac{c}{E(0)^{\frac{1}{p+1}}}\Big(\int_{\Gamma }[-
a']\Box u d \Gamma  \Big)^{1+ \frac{1}{p+1}}.
\]
Using these inequalities and the same arguments as in the
derivation of \eqref{eq4.9}, we have
\[
\frac{d}{dt} \mathcal{L} (t) \leq -\frac{c}{\mathcal{L} (0)^{\frac{1}{p+1}}}\mathcal{L} (t)^{1+ \frac{1}{p+1}}.
\]
 From where we obtain 
 $ \mathcal{L} (t) \leq \displaystyle\frac{c}{(1+t)^{p+1}} \mathcal{L}(0)$.
Then inequality \eqref{eq4.8} implies 
$\displaystyle E(t) \leq \frac{c}{(1+t)^{p+1}}E(0)$,
 which completes the proof.
\end{proof}

We remark that by standard density arguments, the
above result is also valid for weak solutions.

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\end{document}

