Remarks on \(W^{1,p}\)-quasiconvexity, interpenetration of matter, and function spaces for elasticity (Q1196154)

In this work the authors showed, under mild hypothesis on elastic energy function, the existence of the minimizer of the energy in the space \(\{f\in W^{1,p}: \text{det }\nabla f>0,\;1\leq p<n\}\) of a nonlinear elastic ball subject to the severe compressive boundary condition \(f(x)=\lambda x\). In order to show this, they constructed competitors in this space that the energy but interpenetrates the matter. They also proved that \(W^{1,p}\)-quasiconvexity condition of \textit{J. M. Ball} and \textit{F. Murat} [J. Funct. Anal. 58, 225-253 (1984; Zbl 0549.46019)] is a necessary condition for a local minimum in a settting that includes nonlinear elasticity. This theorem is well suited to analysis of the formation of voids in nonlinear elastic materials. Their analysis illustrates the delicacy of the choice of function space for nonlinear elasticity. This work is well written and can find important applications in elasticity theory.