Sobolev inequalities for the symmetric gradient in arbitrary domains

Abstract

A form of Sobolev inequalities for the symmetric gradient of vector-valued functions is proposed, which allows for arbitrary ground domains in $\mathbb R ^n$. In the relevant inequalities, boundary regularity of domains is replaced with information on boundary traces of trial functions. The inequalities so obtained exhibit the same exponents as in classical inequalities for the full gradient of Sobolev functions, in regular domains. Furthermore, they involve constants independent of the geometry of the domain, and hence yield novel results yet for smooth domains. Our approach relies upon a pointwise estimate for the functions in question via a Riesz potential of their symmetric gradient and an unconventional potential depending on their boundary trace.