Topological optimization with nonlinear state equation (Q6950834)

The paper develops a novel framework for handling shape and topology optimization problems governed by elliptic variational inequalities with unilateral conditions. The authors employ the concept of functional variations, which enables both the creation and removal of holes in domains during optimization, an advance over classical approaches where generating new holes is notoriously difficult. They rigorously establish differentiability of the penalized problems, derive adjoint-based gradient formulas, and present finite element discretizations supported by detailed numerical experiments. The methodology's strength lies in combining theoretical depth, via functional variations, penalization, and adjoint systems, with practical computational results that illustrate effective topological changes and convergence. Overall, the work is a significant contribution to the field of PDE-constrained optimization, offering both new analytical insights and promising numerical strategies.