Sizing Design Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of a Hemispherical Shell With a Nonradial Penetrated Nozzle

Abstract

This paper presents a sizing optimization of a hemispherical shell with a nonradial penetrated nozzle, under internal pressure loading. The objective of the optimization is to decrease the stress concentration in the intersection area, through the variation of the thicknesses of the shells, on condition the volume have a minimum value. This is accomplished by performing a stress analysis and by developing a sizing optimization. The variational equations of elasticity and an adjoint variable method are employed to calculate sizing design sensitivities of stresses. This continuum approach combined with a gradient method could be applied to broad classes of elastic structural sizing optimization problems.