Finite element minimization of curvature functionals with anisotropy (Q1817507)

The paper describes a finite element minimization of the prescribed curvature functional with anisotropy via convex approximations. Discretization is done with piecewise linear elements, and the minimization procedure is based on a constraint modified Newton method. The method extends a previous version of the algorithm [\textit{G. Bellettini, M. Paolini} and \textit{C. Verdi}, Pitman Res. Notes Math. Ser. 267, 124-138 (1993; Zbl 0790.53005)] to the inhomogeneous and anisotropic general case. The paper has an appendix with numerical examples computed for certain surface energies.