Existence of solutions for a class of nonconvex minimum problems (Q1127662)

The authors minimize nonconvex functionals of type \(F(u):= \int_\Omega[f(\nabla u)+ u] dx\) on \(u_0+ W^{1,1}_0(\Omega)\), where \(f\) is nonnegative and vanishes on a convex, bounded, closed set \(K\) containing an open neighborhood of zero, and \(\nabla u_0\in K\), so that \(F(u_0)= \int_\Omega u_0 dx\) is well-defined. As long as the penalty for leaving \(K\), which is reflected in the value of \(\int_\Omega f(\nabla u) dx\) is high enough, a minimizer of \(F\) will try to minimize \(\int_\Omega u dx\) in the set of functions whose gradient is in \(K\). Under assumptions which ensure this behviour, the authors construct a solution whose gradient lives on \(\partial K\). They build on previous experience with special cases, such as \(u_0= 0\), \(K= B_1(0)\) etc. in their own papers as well as in a paper by \textit{A. Cellina} [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 14, No. 3, 339-352 (1997; Zbl 0876.49001)].