Nonsmooth domain optimization for elliptic equations with unilateral conditions

In the paper we consider elliptic boundary problems in domains having cuts (cracks). The non-penetration condition of inequality type is prescribed at the crack faces. A dependence of the derivative of the energy functional with respect to variations of crack shape is investigated. This shape derivative can be associated with the crack propagation criterion in the elasticity theory. We analyze an optimization problem of finding the crack shape which provides a minimum of the energy functional derivative with respect to a perturbation parameter and prove a solution existence to this problem.