Shape Optimization for Mitigating Coastal Erosion

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Volker Schulz
• Subject Area: Mathematics
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 423760857

Coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon, exacerbated by global warming, which has significant economic impact on countries with a large coastal part, like Senegal.This project aims at establishing a theoretical and numerical framework for the robust treat- ment of shape and topology optimization problems for the mitigation of coastal erosion. The problem class of shape and topology optimization problems in the context of coastal erosion is new and thus poses particular challenges: typical models for tidal effects rely on asymp- totic analysis often geared towards simulation but not towards optimization, and the proper mathematical formulation of operational optimization goals is open.Thus, this project is of fundamental nature and will provide first insights, onto which further exploration steps can be built on. Therefore, we aim at the following major project goals:- Analysis of proper system models. - Proper formulation of optimization objectives. - Study of existence of solutions and well-posedness. - Formulation of problem specific algorithmic approaches.- Robustification of optimization strategies. - Characterization and computation of conceptual and specific optimal solutions.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1962: Non-smooth and Complementarity-Based Distributed Parameter Systems: Simulation and Hierarchical Optimization
• International Connection: Senegal
• International Co-Applicant: Professor Diaraf Seck, Ph.D.