A direct shape optimization approach for contact problems with boundary stress concentration

Abstract

The paper presents a direct shape optimization approach that minimizes both boundary stress concentration and peak contact pressure of multi-body contact systems. This approach is centered on the direct shape modification of boundary regions of stress concentration measured by von Mises stresses and contact surfaces measured by contact pressure. Without requiring sensitivity data for shape modification, shape optimization is made directly on nodal positions through an iterative computational scheme. Therefore, this approach is simple to implement using either commercial finite element software or in-house programs. An adjustable weighting factor is used to ensure stable and accelerated convergence in shape optimization. To evaluate the proposed approach, three case problems are presented, and the results show that this direct shape optimization approach can be especially applicable to the design and analysis of multi-body systems where boundary stress concentration and contact pressure distribution are an important consideration.