Asia Pac. J. Math.

2023 10:7

ENTROPY SOLUTION FOR NONLINEAR ELLIPTIC BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM

HAVING LARGE MONOTONOCITY IN MUSIELAK-ORLICZ-SOBOLEV SPACES

OUIDAD AZRAIBI1 , BADR EL HAJI2,∗ , MOUNIR MEKKOUR1

1
Laboratory LAMA, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah
University, P.O. Box 1796 Atlas Fez, Morocco
2
Laboratory LaR2A, Departement of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences Tetouan, Abdelmalek Essaadi University ,
BP 2121, Tetouan, Morocco
∗
Corresponding author: badr.elhaji@gmail.com

Received Dec. 27, 2022

Abstract. We describe a Minty’s lemma method to prove an entropy existence of solutions to

some elliptic problems like 
L(u) = f (x) in Ω,


u = 0 on ∂Ω,


under the weaker assumption large monotonicity condition, in the setting of MusielakOrlicz-
sobolev spaces, where the data f belongs to L1 (Ω).
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. 35J62, 35J25.
Key words and phrases. elliptic problem; entropy solutions; Musielak-Orlicz-Sobolev spaces;
compact imbedding; ∆2 -condition.

1. Introduction

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the study of various mathematical
problems in Musielak-Orlics-Sobolev spaces.The study of nonlinear partial differential equa-
tions in this type of spaces is strongly motivated by numerous phenomena of physics, namely
the problems related to nonNewtonian fluids of strongly inhomogeneous behavior with a
high ability of increasing their viscosity under a different stimulus, like shear rate, magnetic
or electric field [19].

DOI: 10.28924/APJM/10-7

©2023 Asia Pacific Journal of Mathematics

1
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 2 of 16

In this short note, we show the existence of an entropy solutions to some elliptic problems
modeled by


L(u) = f (x) in Ω,

(1)
u = 0 on ∂Ω,


Recently in [12] El haji et al. has studied the problem (1) in the weigthed Orlicz-Sobolev
space. Therefore, the authors have proved the existence of entropy solution. In [2] Akdim
et al. have been proved the existence of T - solutions for the similar problem in the setting
weigthed Orlicz-Sobolev space, and other works in this direction can be found in [24] where
the solution u in right hand side of the elliptic equation depend on the gradient.
A great number of articles dedicated to investigating the existence of solutions to elliptic and
parabolic problems under a variety of hypotheses; see, e.g., [9–11, 13–15] and the references
therein.
The aim of this note is to demonstrate the existence of solutions for (1) under the weaker
assumption large monotonicity condition, without using the almost everywhere convergence
of the gradients of the approximate equations, as this is difficult to prove in our context.
Our proof relies heavily on a modified version of Minty’s Lemma. However, the techniques
we used in the proof are not the same as those used in [4, 5].
The plan of the paper is organized as follows: in the next section we will present some basic
definitions and properties in the setting of Musielak- Orlicz-Sobolev space and we prepare
some auxiliary results that will be needed to demonstrate our existence result, while the main
result will be proved in Section 3.

2. Preliminary

Here we give some definitions and properties that concern Musielak-Orlicz spaces (see [21]).
Let Ω be an open subset of Rn , a Musielak-Orlicz function ϕ is a real-valued function defined
in Ω × R+ such that
a) ϕ(x, .) is an N -function for all x ∈ Ω (i.e. convex, nondecreasing, continuous, ϕ(x, 0) =
ϕ(x, t) ϕ(x, t)
0, ϕ(x, t) > 0 for all t > 0 and lim sup = 0 and lim inf = ∞).
t→0 x∈Ω t t→∞ x∈Ω t
b) ϕ(., t) is a measurable function for all t ≥ 0.
For a Musielak-Orlicz function ϕ, let ϕx (t) = ϕ(x, t) and let ϕ−1
x be the nonnegative reciprocal
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 3 of 16

function with respect to t, i.e. the function that satisfies

ϕ−1 −1


x (ϕ(x, t)) = ϕ x, ϕx (t) = t

The Musielak-Orlicz function ϕ is said to satisfy the ∆2 -condition if for some k > 0, and a
nonnegative function h, integrable in Ω, we have

(2) ϕ(x, 2t) ≤ kϕ(x, t) + h(x) for all x ∈ Ω and t ≥ 0.

When (2) holds only for t ≥ t0 > 0, then ϕ is said to satisfy the ∆2 -condition near infinity. Let
ϕ and γ be two Musielak-Orlicz functions, we say that ϕ dominate γ and we write γ ≺ ϕ, near
infinity (resp. globally) if there exist two positive constants c and t0 such that for a.e. x ∈ Ω :

γ(x, t) ≤ ϕ(x, ct) for all t ≥ t0 , (resp. for all t ≥ 0 i.e. t0 = 0).

We say that γ grows essentially less rapidly than ϕ at 0 (resp. near infinity) and we write
γ ≺≺ ϕ if for every positive constant c we have
   
γ(x, ct) γ(x, ct)
lim sup = 0, (resp. lim sup = 0).
t→0 x∈Ω ϕ(x, t) t→∞ x∈Ω ϕ(x, t)

For a Musielak-Orlicz function ϕ and a measurable function u : Ω −→ R, we define the

functional
Z
ρϕ,Ω (u) = ϕ(x, |u(x)|) dx.
Ω

The set Kϕ (Ω) = {u : Ω −→ R measurable/ ρϕ,Ω (u) < ∞} is called as the Musielak-Orlicz
class (or generalized Orlicz class). The Musielak-Orlicz space (the generalized Orlicz spaces)
Lϕ (Ω) is the vector space generated by Kϕ (Ω), that is, Lϕ (Ω) is the smallest linear space
containing the set Kϕ (Ω). Equivalently
n u o
Lϕ (Ω) = u : Ω −→ R measurable/ ρϕ,Ω < ∞, for some λ > 0 .
λ
For a Musielak-Orlicz function ϕ we put:

ψ(x, s) = sup{st − ϕ(x, t)},

t>0

Note that ψ is the Musielak-Orlicz function complementary to ϕ (or conjugate of ϕ) in the

sense of Young with respect to the variable s. In the space Lϕ (Ω) we define the following two
norms:
   
|u(x)|
Z
kukϕ,Ω = inf λ > 0/ ϕ x, dx ≤ 1 ,
Ω λ
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 4 of 16

which is called the Luxemburg norm and the so-called Orlicz norm by:
Z
kukϕ,Ω = sup |u(x)v(x)| dx,
kvkψ ≤1 Ω

where ψ is the Musielak-Orlicz function complementary to ϕ. These two norms are equivalent
(see [21]). The closure in Lϕ (Ω) of the bounded measurable functions with compact support
in Ω is denoted by Eϕ (Ω), it is a separable space (see [21], Theorem 7.10).
We say that sequence of functions un ∈ Lϕ (Ω) is modular convergent to u ∈ Lϕ (Ω) if there
exists a constant λ > 0 such that
 
un − u
lim ρϕ,Ω = 0.
n→∞ λ
For any fixed nonnegative integer m we define

W m Lϕ (Ω) = {u ∈ Lϕ (Ω)/ ∀|α| ≤ m, Dα u ∈ Lϕ (Ω)}

and
W m Eϕ (Ω) = {u ∈ Eϕ (Ω)/ ∀|α| ≤ m, Dα u ∈ Eϕ (Ω)}

where α = (α1 , . . . , αn ) with nonnegative integers αi , |α| = |α1 | + . . . + |αn | and Dα u denote the
distributional derivatives. The space W m Lϕ (Ω) is called the Musielak-Orlicz Sobolev space.
Let for u ∈ W m Lϕ (Ω) :
X n u o
ρ̄ϕ,Ω (u) = ρϕ,Ω (D u) and
α
kukm
ϕ,Ω = inf λ > 0/ ρ̄ϕ,Ω ≤1 ,
λ
|α|≤m

these functionals are a convex modular and a norm on W m LM (Ω), respectively, and the pair

ϕ,Ω is a Banach space if ϕ satisfies the following condition (see [21]):

W m Lϕ (Ω), k.km

(3) There exist a constant c0 > 0 such that inf ϕ(x, 1) ≥ c0 .

x∈Ω

The space W m Lϕ (Ω) will always be identified to a subspace of the product

Q
|α|≤m Lϕ (Ω) =
ΠLϕ , this subspace is σ (ΠLϕ , ΠEψ ) closed.
The space W0m Lϕ (Ω) is defined as the σ (ΠLϕ , ΠEψ ) closure of D(Ω) in W m Lϕ (Ω), and the
space W0m Eϕ (Ω) as the (norm) closure of the Schwartz space D(Ω) in W m Lϕ (Ω).
Let W0m Lϕ (Ω) be the σ (ΠLϕ , ΠEψ ) closure of D(Ω) in W m Lϕ (Ω). The following spaces of
distributions will also be used:
n X o
W −m Lψ (Ω) = f ∈ D0 (Ω)/ f = (−1)|α| Dα fα with fα ∈ Lψ (Ω)
|α|≤m
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 5 of 16

and
n X o
W −m 0
Eψ (Ω) = f ∈ D (Ω)/ f = (−1) D fα with fα ∈ Eψ (Ω) .
|α| α

|α|≤m

We say that a sequence of functions un ∈ W m Lϕ (Ω) is modular convergent to u ∈ W m Lϕ (Ω) if

there exists a constant k > 0 such that
 
un − u
lim ρ̄ϕ,Ω = 0.
n→∞ k
We recall that

(4) ϕ(x, t) ≤ tψ −1 (ϕ(x, t)) ≤ 2ϕ(x, t) for all t ≥ 0.

For ϕ and her complementary function ψ, the following inequality is called the Young inequal-
ity (see [21]):

(5) ts ≤ ϕ(x, t) + ψ(x, s), ∀t, s ≥ 0, a.e. x ∈ Ω.

This inequality implies that

(6) kukϕ,Ω ≤ ρϕ,Ω (u) + 1,

In Lϕ (Ω) we have the relation between the norm and the modular

(7) kukϕ,Ω ≤ ρϕ,Ω (u) if kukϕ,Ω > 1,

and

(8) kukϕ,Ω ≥ ρϕ,Ω (u) if kukϕ,Ω ≤ 1,

For two complementary Musielak-Orlicz functions ϕ and ψ, let u ∈ Lϕ (Ω) and v ∈ Lψ (Ω), then
we have the Hölder inequality (see [21]):
Z 
(9)
 
 u(x)v(x)dx ≤ kukϕ,Ω kvkψ,Ω .
 
Ω

A Musielak function ϕ is called locally integrable on Ω if

Z Z
ϕ(x, t)dx = ϕ (x, tχE (x)) dx < +∞
E Ω

for all t ≥ 0 and all measurable set E ⊂ Ω with mes(E) < +∞.

Remark 1. If P ≺≺ ϕ near infinity such that P is locally integrable on Ω, then ∀c > 0 there exists a
nonnegative integrable function h such that

P (x, t) ≤ ϕ(x, ct) + h(x), for all t ≥ 0 and for a.e. x ∈ Ω.

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 6 of 16

A Musielak function ϕ satisfies the log-Hölder continuity condition on Ω if there exists a

constant A > 0 such that
!
A1
ϕ(x, t) (
log 1
)
≤t |x−y|
ϕ(y, t)
for all t ≥ 1 and for all x, y ∈ Ω with |x − y| ≤ 21 .
We will also use the following technical lemmas.

2.1. Some technical lemmas. We will use the following technical lemmas.

Lemma 2.1. [3] Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain in RN (N ≥ 2) and let ϕ be a Musielak function
satisfying the log-Hölder continuity such that

(10) ϕ̄(x, 1) ≤ c1 a.e in Ω for some c1 > 0.

Then D(Ω) is dense in Lϕ (Ω) and in W01 Lϕ (Ω) for the modular convergence.

Remark 2. Note that if limt→∞ inf x∈Ω ϕ(x,t)

t
= ∞, then (10) holds:

Example 2.1. Let p ∈ P (Ω) a bounded variable exponent on Ω, such that there exists a constant A > 0
such that for all points x, y ∈ Ω with |x − y| < 21 , we have the inequality

A
|p(x) − p(y)| ≤  .
1
log |x−y|

We can verify that the Musielak function defined by ϕ(x, t) = tp(x) log(1 + t) satisfies the conditions of
Lemma 2.1.

Lemma 2.2. [3] (Poincare’s inequality: Integral form) Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain of
RN (N ≥ 2) and let ϕ be a Musielak function satisfying the conditions of Lemma 2.1. Then there exists
positive constants β, η and λ depending only on Ω and ϕ such that
Z Z
(11) ϕ(x, |v|)dx ≤ β + η ϕ(x, λ|∇v|)dx for all v ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω).
Ω Ω

Corollary 2.3. [3] (Poincare’s inequality) Let Ω be a bounded Lipschitz domain of RN (N ≥ 2) and
let ϕ be a Musielak function satisfying the same conditions of Lemma2.2. Then there exists a constant
C > 0 such that

kvkϕ ≤ Ck∇vkϕ ∀v ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω).

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 7 of 16

Lemma 2.4. [22] Let F : R −→ R be uniformly Lipschitzian, with F (0) = 0. Let ϕ be a Musielak-
Orlicz function and let u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω). Then F (u) ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω).
Moreover, if the set D of discontinuity points of F 0 is finite, we have

∂  F 0 (u) ∂u a.e in {x ∈ Ω : u(x) ∈ D}
∂xi
F (u) =
∂xi  0 a.e in {x ∈ Ω : u(x) ∈ / D}.

Lemma 2.5. [6] Suppose that Ω satisfies the segment property and let u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω). Then, there
exists a sequence (un ) ⊂ D(Ω) such that

un → u for modular convergence in W01 Lϕ (Ω).

Furthermore, if u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω) then kun k∞ ≤ (N + 1)kuk∞ .

Lemma 2.6. [20] Let (fn ) , f ∈ L1 (Ω) such that

i) fn ≥ 0 a.e in Ω,
ii) fZn −→ f a.e in Ω,Z
iii) fn (x) dx −→ f (x) dx.
Ω Ω
Then fn −→ f strongly in L1 (Ω).

Lemma 2.7. [7] If a sequence gn ∈ Lϕ (Ω) converges in measure to a measurable function g and if gn
remains bounded in Lϕ (Ω), then g ∈ Lϕ (Ω) and gn * g for σ (ΠLϕ , ΠEψ ).

Lemma 2.8. [7] Let un , u ∈ Lϕ (Ω). If un → u with respect to the modular convergence, then un → u
for σ (Lϕ (Ω), Lψ (Ω)) .

Lemma 2.9. [16] If P ≺ ϕ and un → u for the modular convergence in Lϕ (Ω), then un → u strongly
in EP (Ω).

Lemma 2.10. [23] (Jensen inequality). Let ϕ : R −→ R a convex function and g : Ω −→ R is

function measurable, then
Z  Z
ϕ gdµ ≤ ϕ ◦ g dµ.
Ω Ω

Lemma 2.11. (The Nemytskii Operator). Let Ω be an open subset of RN with finite measure and let ϕ
and ψ be two Musielak Orlicz functions. Let f : Ω × Rp −→ Rq be a Carathéodory function such that
for a.e. x ∈ Ω and all s ∈ Rp :

|f (x, s)| ≤ c(x) + k1 ψx−1 ϕ (x, k2 |s|) ,

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 8 of 16

where k1 and k2 are real positive constants and c(·) ∈ Eψ (Ω). Then the Nemytski Operator Nf defined
by Nf (u)(x) = f (x, u(x)) is continuous from
 p Y  
1 1
P EM (Ω), = u ∈ LM (Ω) : d (u, EM (Ω)) <
k2 k2
into (Lψ (Ω))q for the modular convergence. Furthermore if c(·) ∈ Eγ (Ω) and γ ≺≺ ψ then Nf is
 p
strongly continuous from P EM (Ω), k12 to (Eγ (Ω))q .

[1] ( Segment property ) : A domain Ω is said to satisfy the segment property, if there
exist a finite open covering {θ}ki=1 of Ω̄ and a corresponding nonzero vectors zi ∈ RN such that
Ω̄ ∩ θi + tzi ⊂ Ω for all t ∈ (0, 1) and i = 1, . . . , k.

Lemma 2.12. [17] Suppose that Ω satisfies the segment property and let u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω). Then, there
exists a sequence un ∈ D(Ω) such that

un → u for modular convergence in W01 Lϕ (Ω).

Furthermore, if u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω) then kun k∞ ≤ (N + 1)kuk∞ .

Throughout the paper, Tk denotes the truncation function at height k ≥ 0 :

Tk (s) = max(−k, min(k, s)).

3. Basic assumption And Main result

Let L : D(L) ⊂ W01 LM (Ω) → W −1 LM (Ω) be a mapping given by L(u) = − div l(x, u, ∇u), Ω
be a bounded domain of RN , N ≥ 2, l(x, u, ∇u) = (li (x, u, ∇u))1≤1≤N , li : Ω × R × RN → R be
a Carathéodory function (that is measurable with respect to x in Ω for every (s, ξ) ∈ R × RN ,
and continuous with respect to (s, ξ) ∈ R × RN for almost every x ∈ Ω ), such that for all ξ, ξ 0
in RN , (x, s) ∈ Ω × R
−1
(12) |li (x, s, ξ)| ≤ |φi (x)| + Ki ψ (ϕ(x, c2 |s|)) + Ki (ϕ−1 ϕ(x, c1 |ξ|)),

 0
 0
(13) l(x, s, ξ) − l(x, s, ξ ) (ξ − ξ ) ≥ 0,

(14) l(x, s, ξ)ξ ≥ αϕ(x, λ1 |ξ|),

where c1 , c2 , λ1 , Ki > 0. Let ϕ, ψ are two Musielak-Orlicz functions such that ψ << ϕ. More-
over ϕ, ψ are two complementary Musielak-Orlicz functions of ϕ and ψ respectively, and
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 9 of 16

φ0 , φi ∈ Eϕ (Ω), (Eϕ (Ω) is introduced later.)

(15) f ∈ L1 (Ω).

Let Y be a closed subspace of W 1 Lϕ (Ω) for σ( Eϕ ) and let

Q Q
Lϕ ,

Y0 = Y ∩ W 1 Lϕ (Ω),

such that Y is the closure of Y0 for σ( Lϕ , Eϕ ). In the next, we consider the complementary
Q Q

system (Y, Y0 , Z, Z0 ) generated by Y i.e. Y0∗ can be identified to Z and Z0∗ can be identified
to Y by the means h., .i. Let the mapping T (associated to the operator A) defined from
D(T ) = {u ∈ Y, a0 (x, u, ∇u) ∈ Lϕ (Ω), li (x, u, ∇u) ∈ Lϕ (Ω)} into Z by the formula
Z X Z ∂v(x)
L(u, v) = l0 (x, u, ∇u)v(x)dx + li (x, u, ∇u) dx ∀v ∈ Y0 .
Ω 1≤i≤N Ω ∂x i

We consider the complementary system

(Y, Y0 , Z, Z0 ) = (W01 Lϕ (Ω), W01 Eϕ (Ω), W −1 Eϕ (Ω), W −1 Lϕ (Ω)).

As in [8], we define the entropy solution of our problem. An entropy solution of the
problem (1) is a measurable function u such that Tk (u) ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) for every k > 0 and such
that
Z Z
l(x, u, ∇u)∇Tk (u − φ)dx ≤ f Tk (u − φ)dx
Ω Ω

for every φ ∈ W01 Eϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω).

Our main results are collected in the following theorem.

Theorem 3.1. Under the assumptions (12)-(15), there exist an entropy solution u of the problem (1).

3.1. Main Lemma.

Lemma 3.2. Let u be a mesurable function such that Tk (u) belongs to W01 Lϕ (Ω) for every k > 0. Then

Z Z
(16) l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx ≤ f Tk (u − φ)dx
Ω Ω

is equivalent to
Z Z
(17) l(x, u, ∇u)∇Tk (u − φ) dx = f Tk (u − φ)dx
Ω Ω

for every φ ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω), and for every k > 0.

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 10 of 16

3.2. Proof of lemma 3.2. In fact (17) implies (16) is easily proved adding and subtracting
Z
l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx,
Ω

and then using assumption (13). Thus, it remains to prove that (16) implies (17). Let h and k
be positive real numbers, let λ ∈ ]−1, 1[ and Ψ ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω).
choose, φ = Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)) ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω) as test function in (16), we have:

(18) Ihk ≤ Jhk ,

with Z
Ihk = l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx,
Ω
and Z
Jhk = f Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx.
Ω
Put
Ahk = {x ∈ Ω, |u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))| ≤ k},

and
Bhk = {x ∈ Ω, |u − λTk (u − Ψ)| ≤ h}.

Then, we obtain
Z
Ihk = l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx
Akh ∩Bhk
Z
+ l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx
C
Akh ∩Bhk
Z
+ l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx.
AC
kh

Since ∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) is different to zero only on Akh , we have

Z
(19) l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx = 0.
AC
kh

Moreover, if x ∈ Bhk
C
, we have ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)) = 0 and using (14), we deduce that,
Z
l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx
C
Akh ∩Bhk
Z
(20) = a(x, u, 0)∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx = 0.
C
Akh ∩Bhk

From (19) and (20), we obtain

Z
Ihk = l(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx.
Akh ∩Bhk
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 11 of 16

Letting h → +∞, |λ| ≤ 1, we have

(21) Akh → {x, |λ||Tk (u − Ψ)| ≤ h} = Ω,

(22) Bhk → Ω which implies Akh ∩ Bhk → Ω.

Which and using Lebesgue theorem, we conclude that

Z
lim a(x, u, ∇Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx
h→+∞ Akh ∩Bhk
Z
(23) =λ l(x, u, ∇(u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx.
Ω

thus implies that,

Z
(24) lim Ihk = λ l(x, u, ∇(u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx.
h→+∞ Ω

On the other hand, we have,

Z
Jhk = f Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx.
Ω

Then
Z Z
(25) lim f Tk (u − Th (u − λTk (u − Ψ))) dx = λ f Tk (u − Ψ)dx,
h→+∞ Ω Ω

i.e.,
Z
(26) lim Jhk = λ f Tk (u − Ψ)dx.
h→+∞ Ω

Together (24), (26) and passing to the limit in (18), we obtain,

Z  Z 
λ l(x, u, ∇(u − λTk (u − Ψ)))∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx ≤ λ f Tk (u − Ψ)dx
Ω Ω

for every Ψ ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω), and for every k > 0. Choosing λ > 0 dividing by λ, and then
letting λ tend to zero, we obtain
Z Z
(27) l(x, u, ∇u)∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx ≤ f Tk (u − Ψ)dx.
Ω Ω

for λ < 0, dividing by λ, and then letting λ tend to zero, we obtain

Z Z
(28) l(x, u, ∇u)∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx ≥ f Tk (u − Ψ)dx.
Ω Ω

Combining (27) and (28), we conclude the following equality :

Z Z
(29) l(x, u, ∇u)∇Tk (u − Ψ) dx = f Tk (u − Ψ)dx.
Ω Ω

This completes the proof of Lemma 3.2.

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 12 of 16

3.3. Proof of Theorem 3.1.

3.3.1. Approximate problem and a priori estimate. For n ∈ N, define fn := Tn (f ). Let un be

solution in W01 Lϕ (Ω) of the problem

 − div(l(x, u , ∇u )) = f in Ω
n n n
(30)
 un = 0 on ∂Ω,

which exists thanks to ( [18],Proposition 1, Remark 2). Choosing Tk (un ) as test function in
(30), we have
Z Z
l(x, un , ∇un )∇Tk (un ) dx = fn Tk (un ) dx,
Ω Ω
using ∇Tk (un ) = ∇un χ{|un |≤k} ,
Now thanks to assumption (14), we obtain
Z Z
l(x, un , ∇un )∇Tk (un ) dx ≥ ϕ(x, λ1 |∇Tk (un )|)dx,
Ω Ω

then
Z
(31) ϕ(x, λ1 |∇Tk (un )|)dx ≤ kkf kL1 (Ω) .
Ω

Then
Z
(32) ϕ(x, λ1 |∇Tk (un )|)dx ≤ C1 k,
Ω

where C1 is a constant independently of n.

3.3.2. Locally convergence of un in measure. Taking λ|Tk (un )| in (30) and using (32), one has
|∇Tk (un )|
Z Z
(33) ϕ(x, λ1 )dx ≤ ϕ(x, λ1 |∇Tk (un )|)dx ≤ C1 k.
Ω λ Ω

Then we deduce by using (33), that

|un (x)|
Z
1
meas{|un | > k} ≤ ϕ(x, )dx
infϕ(x, λk ) {|un |>k} λ
k
Z
1 1
(34) ≤ ϕ(x, |Tk (un )|)dx
infϕ(x, λk ) Ω λ
k
C1 k
≤ ∀n, ∀k ≥ 0.
infϕ(x, λk )
k

For any β > 0, we have

meas{|un − um | > β} ≤ meas{|un | > k} + meas{|um | > k} + meas{|Tk (un ) − Tk (um )| > β},
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 13 of 16

and so that
2C1 k
(35) meas{|un − um | > β} ≤ + meas{|Tk (un ) − Tk (um )| > β}.
inf ϕ(x, λk )
x∈Ω

By using (32) and Poincaré inequality in Musielak-Orlicz-Sobolev spaces (lemma 2.3), we

deduce that (Tk (un )) is bounded in W01 Lϕ (Ω), and then there exists ωk ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) such that
Tk (un ) * ωk weakly in W01 Lϕ (Ω) for σ(ΠLϕ , ΠEϕ ); strongly in Eϕ (Ω) and a.e. in Ω.
Consequently, we can assume that (Tk (un ))n is a Cauchy sequence in measure in Ω.
Let ε > 0, then by (35) and the fact that 2C1 k
inf ϕ(x, λ
k
)
→ 0 as k → +∞ there exists some k = k(ε) > 0
x∈Ω
such that

meas{|un − um | > λ} < ε, for all n, m ≥ h0 (k(ε), λ).

This proves that un is a Cauchy sequence in measure, thus, un converges almost everywhere
to some measurable function u. Finally, there exist a subsequence of {un }n , still indexed by n,
and a function u ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) such that

 u * u weakly in W 1 L (Ω) for σ(ΠL , ΠE )
n 0 ϕ ϕ ϕ
(36)
 un −→ u strongly in Eϕ (Ω) and a.e. in Ω.

3.3.3. An intermediate Inequality. In this step, we shall prove that for φ ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω),
we have
Z Z
(37) l(x, un , ∇φ)∇Tk (un − φ) dx ≤ fn Tk (un − φ) dx.
Ω Ω

We choose now Tk (un − φ) as test function in (30), with φ in W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω), we obtain
Z Z
(38) l(x, un , ∇un )∇Tk (un − φ) dx = fn Tk (un − φ) dx.
Ω Ω
Z
Adding and substracting the term l(x, un , ∇φ), ∇Tk (un − φ) dx i.e.,
Ω
Z Z
(39) l(x, un , ∇un )∇Tk (un − φ) dx + l(x, un , ∇φ)∇Tk (un − φ) dx
Ω Ω
Z Z
− l(x, un , ∇φ)∇Tk (un − φ) dx = fn Tk (un − φ)dx.
Ω Ω
Thanks to assumption (13) and the definition of truncation function, we have
Z
(40) (l(x, un , ∇un ) − l(x, un , ∇φ))∇Tk (un − φ) dx ≥ 0.
Ω

Combining (39) and (40), we obtain (37).

Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 14 of 16

3.3.4. Passing to the limit. We shall prove that for φ ∈ W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω), we have
Z Z
l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx ≤ f Tk (u − φ)dx.
Ω Ω

Firstly, we claim that

Z Z
l(x, un , ∇φ)∇Tk (un − φ) dx → l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx as n → +∞.
Ω Ω

Since TM (un ) + TM (u) weakly in W01 Lϕ (Ω), with M = k + kφk∞ , then

(41) Tk (un − φ) + Tk (u − φ) in W01 Lϕ (Ω),

which gives
∂Tk ∂Tk
(42) (un − φ) + (u − φ) weakly in Lϕ (Ω) ∀i = 1, .., N.
∂xi ∂xi
Show that
l(x, TM (un ), ∇φ) → l(x, TM (u), ∇φ) strongly in (Lϕ (Ω))N .

Thanks to assumption (12), we obtain

−1
|li (x, TM (un ), ∇φ)| ≤ |φi (x)| + Ki ψ (ϕ(x, c2 |TM (un )|)) + Ki ϕ−1 ϕ(x, c1 |∇φ|),

with c1 and c2 are positive constants. Since TM (un ) + TM (u) weakly in W01 Lϕ (Ω) and
W01 Lϕ (Ω) ,→,→ Lϕ (Ω), then TM (un ) + TM (u) strongly in Lϕ (Ω) and a.e. in Ω, hence

|l(x, TM (un ), ∇φ)| → |l(x, TM (u), ∇φ)| a.e. in Ω.

and
−1
|φi (x)| + Ki ψ (ϕ(x, c2 |TM (un )|)) + Ki ϕ−1 ϕ(x, c1 |∇φ|) →
−1
|φi (x)| + Ki P (ϕ(x, c2 |TM (u)|)) + Ki ϕ−1 ϕ(x, c1 |∇φ|),

a.e. in Ω. Then, By Vitali’s theorem, we deduce that

(43) l(x, TM (un ), ∇φ) → l(x, TM (u), ∇φ) strongly in (Lϕ (Ω)N , as n → ∞.

Combining (42) and (43), we obtain

Z Z
(44) l(x, un , ∇φ)∇Tk (un − φ) dx → l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx as n → +∞.
Ω Ω

Secondly, we show that

Z Z
(45) fn Tk (un − φ)dx → f Tk (u − φ)dx.
Ω Ω
Asia Pac. J. Math. 2023 10:7 15 of 16

We have fn Tk (un − φ) → f Tk (u − φ) a.e. in Ω then by using Vitali’s theorem, we obtain

(45) . Thanks to (44)and (45) allow to pass to the limit in the inequality (37), so that ∀φ ∈
W01 Lϕ (Ω) ∩ L∞ (Ω), we deduce
Z Z
l(x, u, ∇φ)∇Tk (u − φ) dx ≤ f Tk (u − φ)dx.
Ω Ω

In view of main Lemma, we can deduce that u is an entropy solution of the problem (1). This
completes the proof of our main desired result 3.1.

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