This review paper provides an overview of different level-set methods for structural topology optimization. Level-set methods can be categorized with respect to the level-set-function parameterization, the geometry mapping, the physical/mechanical model, the information and the procedure to update the design and the applied regularization. Different approaches for each of these interlinked components are outlined and compared. Based on this categorization, the convergence behavior of the optimization process is discussed, as well as control over the slope and smoothness of the level-set function, hole nucleation and the relation of level-set methods to other topology optimization methods. The importance of numerical consistency for understanding and studying the behavior of proposed methods is highlighted. This review concludes with recommendations for future research.

Level-set methods for structural topology optimization: a review

A simple analytical model of microsegregation for the solidification of multicomponent steel alloys is presented. This model is based on the Clyne-Kurz model and is extended to take into account the effects of multiple components, a columnar dendrite microstructure, coarsening, and the δ/γ transformation. A new empirical equation to predict secondary dendrite arm spacing as a function of cooling rate and carbon content is presented, based on experimental data measured by several different researchers. The simple microsegregation model is applied to predict phase fractions during solidification, microsegregation of solute elements, and the solidus temperature. The predictions agree well with a range of measured data and the results of a complete finite-difference model. The solidus temperature decreases with either increasing cooling rate or increasing secondary dendrite arm spacing. However, the secondary dendrite arm spacing during solidification decreases with increasing cooling rate. These two opposite effects partly cancel each other, so the solidus temperature does not change much during solidification of a real casting.

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Simple Model of Microsegregation during Solidification of Steels

We present a bibliography on moving and free boundary problems for the heatdiffusion equation, particularly regarding the Stefan and related problems. It contains 5869 titles referring to 588 scientific Journals, 122 books, 88 symposia (having at least 3 contributions on the subject), 30 collections, 59 thesis and 247 technical reports. It tries to give a comprehensive account of the western existing mathematicalphysical-engineering literature on this research field. RESUMEN Se presenta una bibliografía sobre problemas de frontera móvil y libre para la ecuación del calor-difusión, en particular sobre el problema de Stefan y problemas relacionados. Contiene 5869 títulos distribuidos en 588 revistas científicas, 122 libros, 88 simposios (teniendo al menos 3 contribuciones en el tema), 30 colecciones, 59 tesis y 247 informes técnicos o prepublicaciones. Se da un informe amplio de la bibliografía matemática, física y de las ingenierías existente en occidente sobre este tema de investigación. Primary Mathematics Subject Classification Number (*): 35R35, 80A22 Secondary Mathematics Subject Classification Number (*): 35B40, 35C05, 35C15, 35Kxx, 35R30, 46N20, 49J20, 65Mxx, 65Nxx, 76R50, 76S05, 76T05, 93C20. (*) Following the 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification compiled by Mathematical Reviews and Zentralblatt fur Mathematik. Primary key words: Enthalpy formulation or method, Filtration, Free boundary problems, Freezing, Melting, Moving boundary problems, Mushy region, Phase-change problem, Solidification, Stefan problem. Secondary key words: Continuous mechanics, Diffusion process, Functional analysis, Heat conduction, Mathematical methods, Numerical methods, Partial differential equations, Variational inequalities, Weak solutions. Palabras claves primarias: Método o formulación en entalpía, Filtración, Problemas de frontera libre, Congelación, Derretimiento, Problemas de frontera móvil, Región pastosa, Problema de cambio de fase, Solidificación, Problema de Stefan. Palabras claves secundarias: Mecánica del continuo, Procesos difusivos, Análisis funcional, Conducción del calor, Métodos matemáticos, Métodos numéricos, Ecuaciones diferenciales a derivadas parciales, Inecuaciones variacionales, Soluciones débiles. El manuscrito fue recibido y aceptado en octubre de 1999. D.A. Tarzia, A bibliography on FBP. The Stefan problem, MAT Serie A, # 2 (2000). 3

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A bibliography on moving-free boundary problems for the heat-diffusion equation. The stefan and related problems

Life at Low Reynolds Number

Phase-field models, the simplest of which is Allen–Cahn's problem, are characterized by a small parameter e that dictates the interface thickness. These models naturally call for mesh adaptation techniques, which rely on a posteriori error control. However, their error analysis usually deals with the underlying non-monotone nonlinearity via a Gronwall argument which leads to an exponential dependence on e-2 . Using an energy argument combined with a topological continuation argument and a spectral estimate, we establish an a posteriori error control result with only a low order polynomial dependence in e-1 . Our result is applicable to any conforming discretization technique that allows for a posteriori residual estimation. Residual estimators for an adaptive finite element scheme are derived to illustrate the theory.

https://www.esaim-m2an.org/articles/m2an/pdf/2004/01/m2an0311.pdf

A posteriori error control for the Allen–Cahn problem: circumventing Gronwall's inequality

The level set method is used for shape optimization of the energy functional for the Signorini problem. The boundary variations technique is used in order to derive the shape gradients of the energy functional. The conical differentiability of solutions with respect to the boundary variations is exploited. The topology modifications during the optimization process are identified by means of an asymptotic analysis. The topological derivatives of the energy shape functional are employed for the topology variations in the form of small holes. The derivation of topological derivatives is performed within the framework proposed in (Sokolowski and Żochowski, 2003). Numerical results confirm that the method is efficient and gives better results compared with the classical shape optimization techniques.

/pdf/a-level-set-method-in-shape-and-topology-optimization-for-5b2u7jnwar.pdf

A Level Set Method in Shape and Topology Optimization for Variational Inequalities

In this paper we consider an initial and boundary value problem that models the self-propelled motion of solids in a bidimensional viscous incompressible fluid. The self-propelling mechanism, consisting of appropriate deformations of the solids, is a simplified model of the propulsion mechanism of fish-like swimmers. The governing equations consist of the Navier–Stokes equations for the fluid, coupled to Newton’s laws for the solids. Since we consider the case in which the fluid–solid system fills a bounded domain we have to tackle a free boundary value problem. The main theoretical result in the paper asserts the global existence and uniqueness (up to possible contacts) of strong solutions of this problem. The second novel result of this work is the provision of a numerical method for the fluid–solid system. This method provides a simulation of the simultaneous displacement of several swimmers and is tested on several examples.

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An Initial and Boundary Value Problem Modeling of Fish-like Swimming

The aim of this paper is to tackle the self-propelling at low Reynolds number by using tools coming from control theory. More precisely we first address the controllability problem: "Given two arbitrary positions, does it exist "controls" such that the body can swim from one position to another, with null initial and final deformations?". We consider a spherical object surrounded by a viscous incompressible fluid filling the remaining part of the three dimensional space. The object is undergoing radial and axi-symmetric deformations in order to propel itself in the fluid. Since we assume that the motion takes place at low Reynolds number, the fluid is governed by the Stokes equations. In this case, the governing equations can be reduced to a finite dimensional control system. By combining perturbation arguments and Lie brackets computations, we establish the controllability property. Finally we study the time optimal control problem for a simplified system. We derive the necessary optimality conditions by using the Pontryagin maximum principle. In several particular cases we are able to compute the explicit form of the time optimal control and to investigate the variation of optimal solutions with respect to the number of inputs.

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Controllability and Time Optimal Control for Low Reynolds Numbers Swimmers

A class of shape optimization problems is solved numerically by the level set method combined with the topological derivatives for topology optimization. Actually, the topology variations are introduced on the basis of asymptotic analysis, by an evaluation of extremal points (local maxima for the specific problem) of the so-called topological derivatives introduced by Sokolowski and Zochowski [J. Sokolowski and A. Zochowski, On the topological derivative in shape optimization. SIAM J. Control Optim. 37(4) (1999), pp. 1251-1272] for elliptic boundary value problems. Topological derivatives are given for energy functionals of linear boundary value problems. We present results, including numerical examples, which confirm that the application of topological derivatives in the framework of the level set method really improves the efficiency of the method. Examples show that the level set method combined with the asymptotic analysis is robust for the shape optimization problems, and it allows us to identify the better solution compared to the pure level set method exclusively based on the boundary variation technique.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00142699/document

Level set method with topological derivatives in shape optimization

In this paper, we consider a Lagrange--Galerkin scheme to approximate a two-dimensional fluid-rigid body problem. The equations of the system are the Navier--Stokes equations in the fluid part, coupled with ordinary differential equations for the dynamics of the rigid body. In this problem, the equations of the fluid are written in a domain whose variation is one of the unknowns. We introduce a numerical method based on the use of characteristics and on finite elements with a fixed mesh. Our main result asserts the convergence of this scheme.

/pdf/convergence-of-the-lagrange-galerkin-method-for-the-35eu86r8bg.pdf

Jean-François Scheid

Papers

A Level Set Method in Shape and Topology Optimization for Variational Inequalities

An Initial and Boundary Value Problem Modeling of Fish-like Swimming

Controllability and Time Optimal Control for Low Reynolds Numbers Swimmers

Level set method with topological derivatives in shape optimization

Convergence of the Lagrange--Galerkin Method for the Equations Modelling the Motion of a Fluid-Rigid System