On the asymptotic behavior of a phase-field model for elastic phase transitions

We study the asymptotic behavior of a one-dimensional, dynamical model of solid-solid elastic transitions in which the phase is determined by an order parameter. The system is composed of two coupled evolution equations, the mechanical equation of elasticity which is hyperbolic and a parabolic equation in the order parameter. Due to the strong coupling and the lack of smoothing in the hyperbolic equation, the asymptotic behavior of solutions is difficult to determine using standard methods of gradient-like systems. However, we show that under suitable assumptions all solutions approach the equilibrium set weakly, while the phase field stabilizes strongly. © 1997 Plenum Publishing Corporation.