Shape optimisation for a class of semilinear variational inequalities with applications to damage models

The present contribution investigates shape optimisation problems for a class of semilinear elliptic variational inequalities with Neumann boundary conditions. Sensitivity estimates and material derivatives are firstly derived in an abstract operator setting where the operators are defined on polyhedral subsets of reflexive Banach spaces. The results are then refined for variational inequalities arising from minimisation problems for certain convex energy functionals considered over upper obstacle sets in $H^1$. One particularity is that we allow for dynamic obstacle functions which may arise from another optimisation problems. We prove a strong convergence property for the material derivative and establish state-shape derivatives under regularity assumptions. Finally, as a concrete application from continuum mechanics, we show how the dynamic obstacle case can be used to treat shape optimisation problems for time-discretised brittle damage models for elastic solids. We derive a necessary optimality system for optimal shapes whose state variables approximate desired damage patterns and/or displacement fields

Regularity and Sensitivity for McKean-Vlasov Type SPDEs Generated by Stable-like Processes

In this paper we study the sensitivity of nonlinear stochastic differential equations of McKean-Vlasov type generated by stable-like processes. By using the method of stochastic characteristics, we transfer these equations to the non-stochastic equations with random coefficients thus making it possible to use the results obtained for nonlinear PDE of McKean-Vlasov type generated by stable-like processes in the previous works. The motivation for studying sensitivity of nonlinear McKean-Vlasov SPDEs arises naturally from the analysis of the mean-field games with common noise.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1710.1060