New Method of Finite Element Sensitivity Analysis for Coupled Problems and Its Application to Structural Optimization Technology

This paper describes a newly developed optimization system for mechanical structures with coupled problems concerning heat conduction and stress analysis, which is based on the new Finite Element Sensitivity Analysis (FESA). In this system, the variation of material properties, for example heat conductivity, is considered as structural changes because it is difficult to change the material properties locally or partially. As well as the FESA, this system requires just one calculation and then brings the efficient designing products. The effectiveness of the system was verified by results showing that optimizations for structural design were given efficiently when the system was applied to the design of actual industry products, a turbine blade and a cooling jacket of computer modules.