Non-convex shape optimization by dissipative Hamiltonian flows

Shape optimization with constraints given by partial differential equations (PDE) is a highly developed field of optimization theory. The elegant adjoint formalism allows to compute shape gradients at the computational cost of a further PDE solve. Thus, gradient descent methods can be applied to shape optimization problems. However, gradient descent methods that can be understood as approximation to gradient flows get stuck in local minima, if the optimization problem is non-convex. In machine learning, the optimization in high dimensional non-convex energy landscapes has been successfully tackled by momentum methods, which can be understood as passing from gradient flow to dissipative Hamiltonian flows. In this paper, we adopt this strategy for non-convex shape optimization. In particular, we provide a mechanical shape optimization problem that is motivated by optimal reliability considering also material cost and the necessity to avoid certain obstructions in installation space. We then show how this problem can be solved effectively by port Hamiltonian shape flows.