Extremal points of a functional on the set of convex functions (Q4235589)

The problem the authors consider is the following: \[ \min\left \{\int_\Omega f(Du)dx:u: \Omega\to\mathbb{R}\text{ convex, }u_1\leq u\leq u_2\right\} \tag{1} \] where \(\Omega\) is a bounded open subset of \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and \(u_1,u_2\) are two convex functions on \(\Omega\) which coincide on \(\partial\Omega\). Problems of this form appear for instance in the study of optimal aerodynamical profiles according to Newton's model, and in some problems from economy. The result proved in the paper is that when the integrand \(f\) is either strictly convex or strictly concave, then the solutions of problem (1) become trivial. More precisely, -- if \(f\) is strictly convex then \(u_1\) is the unique solution of problem (1); -- if \(f\) is strictly concave then \(u_2\) is the unique solution of problem (1). It must be noticed however that in the applications mentioned above the integrand \(f\) is neither convex nor concave. A last section is devoted to some interesting generalizations and improvements of the results above.