Numerical approximation of variational problems with orthotropic growth

We consider the numerical approximation of variational problems with orthotropic growth, that is those where the integrand depends strongly on the coordinate directions with possibly different growth in each direction. Under realistic regularity assumptions we derive optimal error estimates. These estimates depend on the existence of an orthotropically stable interpolation operator. Over certain meshes we construct an orthotropically stable interpolant that is also a projection. Numerical experiments illustrate and explore the limits of our theory.