diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/.gitignore b/optimization_application/use_cases/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22c27aef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+*.csv
+*.unv
+*.vtk
+*.bin
+*.post.lst
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_main.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_main.json
index a383b9fb..35edc033 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_main.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_main.json
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
                 "help": "This process fixes the selected components of a given vector variable",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "3D_Hook.support_vertical_1",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@
                 "help": "This process fixes the selected components of a given vector variable",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "3D_Hook.support_horizontal_1",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_tip.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_tip.json
index b4b78ca0..6d1d90e4 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_tip.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/3d_hook/primal_parameters_tip.json
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
                 "help": "This process fixes the selected components of a given vector variable",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "3D_Hook.support_vertical_1",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@
                 "help": "This process fixes the selected components of a given vector variable",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "3D_Hook.support_horizontal_1",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/ProjectParameters.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/ProjectParameters.json
index b3af0aee..1f622171 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/ProjectParameters.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/ProjectParameters.json
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.support_left",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -71,7 +70,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.support_right",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -93,7 +91,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorByDirectionProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.load",
                     "variable_name": "POINT_LOAD",
                     "modulus": 1.0,
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/explicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/explicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
index 4d4807a2..cd2eb5ad 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/explicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/explicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
@@ -113,11 +113,11 @@
                     }
                 },
                 "output_all_fields": true,
-                "beta_settings": {
+                "thickness_projection_settings": {
+                    "type": "adaptive_sigmoidal_projection",
                     "initial_value": 5,
-                    "max_value": 30,
-                    "adaptive": true,
-                    "increase_fac": 1.05,
+                    "max_value"    : 30,
+                    "increase_fac" : 1.05,
                     "update_period": 20
                 },
                 "physical_thicknesses": [
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/implicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/implicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
index 94567b89..f5638083 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/implicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_and_thickness/implicit_filter/optimization_parameters.json
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@
                     "filtering_boundary_conditions": {}
                 },
                 "output_all_fields": true,
-                "beta_settings": {
+                "thickness_projection_settings": {
+                    "type": "adaptive_sigmoidal_projection",
                     "initial_value": 5,
-                    "max_value": 30,
-                    "adaptive": true,
-                    "increase_fac": 1.05,
+                    "max_value"    : 30,
+                    "increase_fac" : 1.05,
                     "update_period": 20
                 },
                 "physical_thicknesses": [
diff --git a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_only/ProjectParameters.json b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_only/ProjectParameters.json
index b3af0aee..1f622171 100644
--- a/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_only/ProjectParameters.json
+++ b/optimization_application/use_cases/archara/shape_only/ProjectParameters.json
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.support_left",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -71,7 +70,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorVariableProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.support_right",
                     "variable_name": "DISPLACEMENT",
                     "constrained": [
@@ -93,7 +91,6 @@
                 "kratos_module": "KratosMultiphysics",
                 "process_name": "AssignVectorByDirectionProcess",
                 "Parameters": {
-                    "mesh_id": 0,
                     "model_part_name": "archara.load",
                     "variable_name": "POINT_LOAD",
                     "modulus": 1.0,