Shape optimization and continuation method

A first part describes a simple method for interactive optimization of the shape of a thin plate. The aim is to minimize the stresses in a given region of the plate. A second part shows how the size of a 2-dimensional domain Ω can influence the number and stability of the steady states in a reaction-diffusion system defined on Ω and describes some results on the optimal control of this system in the presence of bifurcations.