Approximation of convex functionals by obstacle functionals

Convexity of real functions of several variables, generalizations (26B25) Sobolev spaces and other spaces of ``smooth functions, embedding theorems, trace theorems (46E35) Variational inequalities (49J40) Methods involving semicontinuity and convergence; relaxation (49J45) Variational problems in a geometric measure-theoretic setting (49Q20) Convergence in general topology (sequences, filters, limits, convergence spaces, nets, etc.) (54A20)

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It was proved by \textit{E. De Giorgi}, \textit{G. Dal Maso} and the author [Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei, VIII. Ser., Rend., Cl. Sci. Fis. Mat. Nat. 68, 481-487 (1980; Zbl 0512.49011)] that the limit in \(L^ 2(\Omega)\) of the minimum points of any sequence of variational obstacle functionals \(\| w\|^ 2_{H^ 1(\Omega)}+G_ h(w,B),\) where \(G_ h(w,B)=0\) if \(g'_ h(x)\leq \tilde w(x)\leq g_ h(x)\) cap a.e. on B and \(G_ h(w,B)=+\infty\) otherwise, is the minimum point of a certain variational functional. This may be represented for almost all Borel sets B as \(\| w\|^ 2_{H^ 1(\Omega)}+\int_{B}f(x,\tilde w(x))dm,\) where f need not assume only the values 0 and \(+\infty\), as it happens for the obstacles. The convergence of the minimum points is implied by a relation which involves De Giorgi \(\Gamma\)-limits. This paper provides a partial answer to the problem, posed by De Giorgi, of characterizing the function f for which the relation above holds for some sequence \((G_ h)\) of obstacles. In fact only sufficient conditions on f are examined. The proof of the main theorem is divided in many steps and involves an explicit construction of the sequence \((G_ h)\) in a simpler case, and several procedures of approximation.

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