A measure for the stability of structures immersed in a 2D laminar flow

Abstract We introduce a new measure for the stability of structures, such as the cross-section of the deck of a suspension bridge, subject to a 2D fluid force, such as the lift exerted by a laminar wind. We consider a wide class of possible flows, as well as a wide class of structural shapes. Within a suitable topological framework, we prove the existence of an optimal shape maximizing the stability. Applications to engineering problems are also discussed.