On the Stability of Sizing Optimization Problems for a Class of Nonlinearly Elastic Materials

In this work we deal with a stability aspect of sizing optimization problems for a class of nonlinearly elastic materials, where the underlying state problem is nonlinear in both the displacements and the stresses. In 14] it is shown under which conditions there exists a unique solution of discrete design problems for a body made of the considered nonlinear material, if the nonlinear state problem is solved exactly. In numerical examples the nonlinear state problem has to be solved iteratively, and therefore it can be solved only up to some small error \eps . The question of interest is how this affects the optimal solution, respectively the set of solutions, of the design problem. We show with the theory of point-to-set mappings that if the material is not too nonlinear, then the optimal design depends continuously on the error \eps . Accepted 15 March 2001. Online publication 14 August 2001.