A level-set method for shape optimization

We study a level-set method for numerical shape optimization of elastic structures. Our approach combines the level-set algorithm of Osher and Sethian with the classical shape gradient. Although this method is not specifically designed for topology optimization, it can easily handle topology changes for a very large class of objective functions. Its cost is moderate since the shape is captured on a fixed Eulerian mesh. (C) 2002 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.