Sensitivity analysis and optimization of heat transfer and thermal-structural designs

Abstract

This paper studies the sensitivity analysis and design optimization methods of coupled transient heat transfer thermal-structures. The critical-point constraints were used on the transient constraints of heat transfer and thermal-structural responses. The direct and adjoint methods of sensitivity analysis for transient heat transfer are proposed with finite element and time difference implementation. This enables coupling optimization on temperature field and thermal responses of structures. The structural design modeling, sensitivity analysis and optimization methods are implemented in 2D and 3D thermalstructures with both shape and size design variables.