Topology optimization for minimum temperature with mass flow and stiffness constraints

We present a new topology optimization problem formulation for conjugate heat transfer problems based on minimizing temperature subject to mass flow constraints on the flow of a cooling medium and show well-posedness of the continuum problem. A version of the problem augmented with a lower bound on the stiffness of the designs is considered in numerical examples loosely based on a real design case for a gas turbine part. The numerical examples indicate that the proposed problem formulation can be used to obtain designs which are useful from an engineering perspective. •Temperature minimization with mass flow and stiffness constraints.•Well-posedness of continuum problem is shown.•Numerical examples based on 3D industrial design case.