Fifth International Conference on Advanced COmputational Methods in ENgineering (ACOMEN 2011)

Li`ege, Belgium, 14-17 November 2011

(c)University of Li`ege, 2011

Structural optimization using shape-sensitivity analysis and a

level-set based mesh evolution method
Gregoire Allaire1 , Charles Dapogny2 and Pascal Frey2
1

Centre de Mathematiques Appliquees (UMR 7641), Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France

2
UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7598, Laboratoire J.L. Lions, Paris, France
e-mails: gregoire.allaire@polytechnique.fr, {dapogny, frey}@ann.jussieu.fr

We propose a new framework for geometric shape optimization, hitherto implemented in 2d but
devised with the 3d case in mind. Inspired by [1], it combines shape-sensitivity analysis techniques with
a level-set based mesh evolution method. Our motivation is to mesh exactly the shape at each step of the
optimization process, while relying on level set methods when it comes to dealing with its deformation,
which allow for dramatic changes in the shape, including topological changes.
The approach starts with an unstructured mesh T of a computational domain D and an initial shape
0 D, represented by a level-set function 0 defined on D. The 0-level set of 0 is then explicitly
discretized in T , so that we get a new mesh Tf0 , which contains a mesh of 0 as submesh. Unfortunately,
Tf0 is obtained by mere intersection of T with 0 and is bound to be of very poor quality as far as finite
element computations are concerned (ill-shaped, e.g. very stretched elements are likely to appear).
Hence, a mesh improvement step is required, yielding a new mesh T 0 , so that both discretized boundary
0 and domain 0 are endowed with a mesh suitable for computations [2].
In a second step, a shape-sensitivity analysis of the considered cost functional J() is performed on
the discretized domain 0 . A shape gradient is derived, prescribing a descent direction for J().
The third step amounts to solving the level-set advection equation on mesh T 0 , according to this
velocity field. This brings a new level-set function 1 on mesh T 0 , which accounts for a domain 1 .
The process is then iterated until convergence.

Figure 1: (from left to right) Initial shape 0 ; mesh T 0 , with boundary 0 explicitly discretized (yellow) and
the 0-level set of 1 (green) ; intermediate step where a topological change occur ; optimal shape.

References
[1] G. Allaire, F. Jouve, and A.M. Toader. Structural optimization using sensitivity analysis and a levelset method. J. Comp. Phys., 194:363393, 2004.
[2] P. Frey and P.L. George. Mesh Generation. Application to finite elements. Wiley,London, 2008.