S.Y. Wang^1,2, K.M. Lim^2,3, B.C. Khoo^2,3, M.Y. Wang⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.21, No.3, pp. 219-238, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.021.219

Abstract Hole nucleation is an important issue not yet fully addressed in structural topology optimization using the level set methods. In this paper, a consistent and robust nucleation method is proposed to overcome the inconsistencies in the existing implementations and to allow for smooth hole nucleation in the conventional shape derivatives-based level set methods to avoid getting stuck at a premature local optimum. The extension velocity field is constructed to be consistent with the mutual energy density and favorable for hole nucleation. A negative extension velocity driven nucleation mechanism is established due to the physically meaningful… More >

S.Y. Wang^1,2, K.M. Lim^2,3, B.C. Khoo^2,3, M.Y. Wang⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 1-40, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.021.001

Abstract The level set method is a numerical technique for simulating moving interfaces. In this paper, an unconditionally BIBO (Bounded-Input-Bounded-Output) time-stable consistent meshfree level set method is proposed and applied as a more effective approach to simultaneous shape and topology optimization. In the present level set method, the meshfree infinitely smooth inverse multiquadric Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) are employed to discretize the implicit level set function. A high level of smoothness of the level set function and accuracy of the solution to the Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equation (PDE) can be achieved. The resulting dynamic system of… More >

S.Y. Wang^1,2, K.M. Lim^2,3, B.C. Khoo^2,3, M.Y. Wang⁴

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 155-182, 2007, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2007.018.155

Abstract In this paper, a geometric deformation constrained level set method is presented as an effective approach for structural shape and topology optimization. A level set method is used to capture the motion of the free boundary of a structure. Furthermore, the geometric deformation of the free boundary is constrained to preserve the structural connectivity and/or topology during the level set evolution. An image-processing-based structural connectivity and topology preserving approach is proposed. A connected components labeling technique based on the 4-neighborhood connectivity measure and a binary image is used for the present region identification. The corresponding… More >

Xiaofeng Yang¹, Ashley J. James^1,2

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 65-96, 2007, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2007.003.065

Abstract An arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method for interfacial flows with insoluble surfactants is presented. The interface is captured using a coupled level set and volume of fluid method, which takes advantage of the strengths of both the level set method and the volume of fluid method. By directly tracking the surfactant mass, the method conserves surfactant mass, and prevents surfactant from diffusing off the interface. Interfacial area is also tracked. To accurately approximate the interfacial area, the fluid interface is reconstructed using piece-wise parabolas. The surfactant concentration, which determines the local surface tension through an equation… More >

S.Y. Wang^1,2, M.Y. Wang³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 119-148, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2006.013.119

Abstract In this paper, an implicit free boundary parametrization method is presented as an effective approach for simultaneous shape and topology optimization of structures. The moving free boundary of a structure is embedded as a zero level set of a higher dimensional implicit level set function. The radial basis functions (RBFs) are introduced to parametrize the implicit function with a high level of accuracy and smoothness. The motion of the free boundary is thus governed by a mathematically more convenient ordinary differential equation (ODE). Eigenvalue stability can be guaranteed due to the use of inverse multiquadric… More >

Cosmina S. Hogea¹, Bruce T. Murray¹, James A. Sethian^2,3

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 109-130, 2005, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2005.001.109

Abstract A computational framework for simulating growth and transport in biological materials based on continuum models is proposed. The advantages of the finite difference methodology employed are generality and relative simplicity of implementation. The Cartesian mesh/level set method developed here provides a computational tool for the investigation of a host of transport-based tissue/tumor growth models, that are posed as free or moving boundary problems and may exhibit complicated boundary evolution including topological changes. The methodology is tested here on a widely studied "incompressible flow" type tumor growth model with a numerical implementation in two dimensions; comparisons More >

Edwin Jim ´enez¹, Mark Sussman², Mitsuhiro Ohta³

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 97-108, 2005, DOI:10.3970/fdmp.2005.001.097

Abstract The aim of this paper is to utilize a numerical model to compute bubble motion in quiescent Newtonian and viscoelastic liquids. For our numerical method, we use a coupled level set and volume-of-fluid method with a second order treatment for the jump conditions related to surface tension. We investigate axisymmetric gas-liquid systems with large density and viscosity ratios as well as buoyancy-driven flows with complex changes in topology. We present comparisons to previous computational results as well as experimental results. More >

Li-Tien Cheng²³, Myungjoo Kang⁴, Stanley Osher⁴, Hyeseon Shim⁴, Yen-Hsi Tsai⁵

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.5, No.4, pp. 347-360, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.005.347

Abstract Geometric optics makes its impact both in mathematics and real world applications related to ray tracing, migration, and tomography. Of special importance in these problems are the wavefronts, or points of constant traveltime away from sources, in the medium. Previously in [Osher, Cheng, Kang, Shim, and Tsai(2002)], we initiated a level set approach for the construction of wavefronts in isotropic media that handled the two major algorithmic issues involved with this problem: resolution and multivalued solutions. This approach was quite general and we were able to construct wavefronts in the presence of refraction, reflection, higher More >

Michael Yu Wang¹, Xiaoming Wang²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.6, No.4, pp. 373-396, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.006.373

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of structural shape and topology optimization. A level set method is adopted as an alternative approach to the popular homogenization based methods. The paper focuses on four areas of discussion: (1) The level-set model of the structure’s shape is characterized as a region and global representation; the shape boundary is embedded in a higher-dimensional scalar function as its “iso-surface.” Changes of the shape and topology are governed by a partial differential equation (PDE). (2) The velocity vector of the Hamilton-Jacobi PDE is shown to be naturally related to the shape… More >

Dongwoo Sheen¹, Sangwon Seo², Jinwoo Cho³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.4, No.1, pp. 21-30, 2003, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2003.004.021

Abstract The reconstructing optimal microstructures of given homogenized coefficients of steady diffusion equation is studied. In the reconstruction, the governing equation of level set function is approximated by adding viscosity term and the numerical procedure for the evolution of the level set function for the solution is examined. The numerical experiments of reconstruction are obtained by applying a finite element method with locally fitted mesh. More >