Shape design with great geometrical deformations using continuously moving finite element nodes

Abstract

In this paper design sensitivity analysis is applied to solve the TEAM workshop problem 25. In order to justify the use of a gradient method, it is necessary to assume a continuously differentiable dependence of the stiffness matrix on the design parameters. Since design sensitivity analysis is mainly applicable to optimization problems, where the geometrical parameters undergo small changes only - which is not the case for the problem investigated in this paper-a procedure is proposed, which allows this method to be applied also when the changes in geometry are significant.