Variational Methods In Shape Optimization Problems

Variationl Methods in Some Shape Optimization Problems

Variational Methods in Shape Optimization Problems

Shape optimization problems are treated from the classical and modern perspectives Targets a broad audience of graduate students in pure and applied mathematics, as well as engineers requiring a solid mathematical basis for the solution of practical problems Requires only a standard knowledge in the calculus of variations, differential equations, and functional analysis Driven by several good examples and illustrations Poses some open questions.

Variational methods in some shape optimization problems

The study of shape optimization problems is a very wide field, both classical, as the isoperimetric problem and Newton problem of the best aerodynamical shape show, and modern, for all the recent results obtained in the last two, three decades. The fascinating feature is that the competing objects are shapes, i.e. domains of Rn, instead of functions, as usually occurs in problems of calculus of variations. This constraint often produces additional difficulties that lead to a lack of existence of a solution and the introduction of suitable relaxed formulations of the problem. However, in a few cases an optimal solution exists, due to the special form of the cost functional and to the geometrical restriction on the class of competing domains. This volume collects the lecture notes of two courses given in the academic year 2000/01 by the authors at the University of Pisa and at the Scuola Normale Superiore respectively. The courses were mainly addressed to Ph. D. students and required a background in the topics in functional analysis that are usually taught in undergraduate courses.