Optimal shape design problems for a class of systems described by hemivariational inequalities (Q1383841)

The authors have considered optimal shape design problems for systems described by hemivariational inequalities. The studied problems are of the following form: Find \((u(\Omega),\Omega)\), \(\Omega\) belongs to a set of domains of admissible shapes, such that it minimizes the considered cost function and \(u(\Omega)\) solves the state equation: \[ a(u,v-u)+\int_\omega j^\circ(u,v-u) dx\geq \langle f,v-u\rangle_{V\times V'}, \tag{P} \] where \(V\subset H^1(\Omega)\), \(a(\cdot,\cdot)\) a bilinear form on \(V\), \(f\) an element of the dual space \(V'\), \(j^\circ\) the generalized directional derivative (in the sense of F. H. Clarke) and \(\omega\) the domain \(\Omega\) or its boundary \(\partial\Omega\). Problems of the form (P) are called hemivariational inequalities [see, e.g., \textit{Z. Naniewicz} and \textit{P. D. Panagiotopoulos}: ``Mathematical theory of hemivariational inequalities'' (1995)]. They are generalizations of the classical variational inequalities in the sense that they involve nonmonotone relations, and, therefore, their potential functions (if they exist) are nonconvex. Because of nonmonotonicity the solutions of the hemivariational inequalities are not generally unique. This makes the above problem more involved. The authors prove the existence of an optimal shape by using the direct method of the calculus of variations and the so-called mapping method [see \textit{F. Murat} and \textit{J. Simon}, ``Sur le controle par un domaine géométrique'', Preprint no. 76015, Université de Paris 6 (1976)]. They also illustrate some possible applications for the developed theory.