Dynamic perfect plasticity as convex minimization

We present a novel variational approach to dynamic perfect plasticity. This is based on minimizing over entire trajectories parameter-dependent convex functionals of weighted-inertia-dissipation-energy (WIDE) type. Solutions to the system of dynamic perfect plasticity are recovered as limits of minimizing trajectories as the parameter goes to zero. The crucial compactness is achieved by means of a time discretization and a variational convergence argument.