OPTIMIZATION OF MECHANISMS USING DIRECT DIFFERENTIATION AND A MULTIPOINT APPROXIMATION METHOD

Optimal design of multibody systems with deformable bodies is considered. The systems are analysed using the finite element approach while the optimization is performed by a multipoint approximation method. The design sensitivity information obtained by a direct differentiation of the equations of motion is used during the optimization to reduce the computational effort. The procedure is applied to a weight optimization of a four-bar and a slider-crank mechanism. The effectiveness of using the derivatives is discussed.