Configuration design sensitivity analysis and optimization of beam structures

 A general method for configuration design sensitivity analysis over a three-dimensional beam structure is developed based on a variational formulation of the classical beam in linear elasticity. A sensitivity formula is derived based on a variational equation for the beam structure using the material derivative concept and adjoint variable method. The formulation considers not only the shape variation in a three dimensional direction, which includes translational as well as rotational change of the beam but also the orientation angle variation of the beam's cross section. The sensitivity formula can be evaluated with generality and ease even by employing a piecewise linear design velocity field despite the fact that the bending model is a fourth order differential equation. The design sensitivity analysis is implemented using the post-processing data of a commercial code ANSYS. Several numerical examples are given to show the excellent accuracy of the method. Optimization is carried out for a tilted arch bridge and an archgrid structure to show the method's applicability. Received 29 September 2001 / Accepted 20 March 2002     

Variational design sensitivity analysis in the context of structural optimization and configurational mechanics

Variational design sensitivity analysis is a branch of structural optimization. We consider variations of the material configuration and we are interested in the change of the state variables and the objective functional due to these variations. In the same manner in configurational mechanics we are interested in changes of the material body. In this paper, we derive the physical and material residual problem by using standard optimization procedures and we investigate sensitivity relations for the physical and material problem. These sensitivity relations are used in order to solve the coupled physical and material problem. Both problems are coupled by the pseudo load operator, which play an important role for the solution of structural optimization problems. Furthermore, we derive explicit formulations for the variations of the physical and material problem and propose different solution algorithms for the coupled problem.     

Quartz thickness-shear mode pressure sensor design for enhanced sensitivity

Companies in the oil and gas industry rely upon acquisition of accurate downhole pressure data for management of reservoir resources. Pressure data must be acquired in extreme environments present in wells, including high pressures, high temperatures, and high levels of shock and vibration. A primary concern of oil and gas companies is that pressure transducers provide reliable data throughout the duration of well-testing jobs. Important performance parameters for well-test pressure gauges include inaccuracy arising from nonlinearity, hysteresis, nonrepeatability, and temperature. Accurate pressure measurements are required for determination of reservoir resources. Sensor output per unit pressure (sensitivity) and the corresponding minimum resolvable pressure (resolution) are important performance considerations. Pressure resolution is the key parameter for dynamic well-test analyses used to determine reservoir properties. Design limits, including maximum allowable pressure over the operating temperature range, also must be known. Pressure transducers must retain acceptable performance characteristics including accuracy, sensitivity, and resolution for long periods of operation to provide reliable data and reduce the frequency and cost of recalibration. This paper describes a unique quartz thickness-shear mode sensor that was developed for downhole pressure measurements. Pressure transducers that use this sensor meet the demanding requirements of downhole testing.     

Multiscale design optimization of lithium ion batteries using adjoint sensitivity analysis

The capacity of lithium ion batteries can be improved through the use of functionally graded electrodes. Here, we present a computational framework for optimizing the layout of electrodes using a multiscale lithium ion battery cell model. The model accounts for nonlinear transient transport processes and mechanical deformations at multiple scales. A key component of the optimization methodology is the formulation of the adjoint sensitivity equations of the multiscale battery model. The efficient solution of the adjoint equations relies on the decomposition of the multiscale problem into multiple, computationally small problems associated with the individual realizations of the microscale model. This decomposition method is shown to significantly reduce the computational time needed for sensitivity analysis versus numerical finite differencing. The potential of the proposed optimization framework is illustrated with numerical problems involving both macroscale and microscale performance criteria and design variables. The usable capacity of a lithium ion battery cell is maximized while limiting the stress level in the electrode particles through manipulation of the local porosities and particle radii. The optimization results suggest that optimal functionally graded electrodes improve the performance of a battery cell over using uniform porosity and particle radius distributions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Meshless shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization for contact problem with friction

 In this paper, a continuum-based shape design sensitivity formulation for a frictional contact problem with a rigid body is proposed using a meshless method. The contact condition is imposed using the penalty method that regularizes the solution of variational inequality. The shape dependency of the contact variational form with respect to the design velocity field is obtained. The dependency of the response with respect to the shape of the rigid body is also considered. It is shown that the sensitivity equation needs to be solved at the final converged load step for the frictionless contact problem, whereas for the frictional contact case the sensitivity solution is needed at the converged configuration of each load step because the sensitivity of the current load step depends on that of the previous load step. The continuum-based contact formulation and consistent linearization is critical for accurate shape design sensitivity results. The accuracy of the proposed method is compared with the finite difference result and excellent agreement is obtained for a door seal contact example. A design optimization problem is formulated and solved to reduce the contact gap opening successfully in a demonstration of the proposed method.     

Shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization of two-dimensional periodic thermal problems using BEM

 A general procedure to perform shape design sensitivity analysis for two-dimensional periodic thermal diffusion problems is developed using boundary integral equation formulation. The material derivative concept to describe shape variation is used. The temperature is decomposed into a steady state component and a perturbation component. The adjoint variable method is used by utilizing integral identities for each component. The primal and adjoint systems are solved by boundary element method. The sensitivity results compared with those by finite difference show good accuracy. The shape optimal design problem of a plunger model for the panel of a television bulb, which operates periodically, is solved as an example. Different objectives and amounts of heat flux allowed are studied. Corresponding optimum shapes of the cooling boundary of the plunger are obtained and discussed. Received 15 August 2001 / Accepted 28 February 2002     

用于微纳米几何量尺寸测量的三维微接触式测头

为实现微纳尺度器件三维几何形貌测量及表征,基于电容和压阻原理,开发了两种三维微接触式测头。其中电容测头测量范围4.5μm,轴向分辨力和横向分辨力分别为10 nm和25 nm;压阻测头测量范围4.6μm,轴向分辨力和横向分辨力分别为5 nm和10 nm。两种测头均可集成到纳米测量机,实现微结构几何参数的测量。     

硅压阻式微压力传感器的研制及性能测试

硅微压力传感器由于体积小、重量轻、精度高、成本低等特点应用很广泛,在某些领域已取代传统的传感器。进一步研制小体积高精度的传感器,扩大其应用范围已势在必行。本工作主要从提高传感器的性能角度来分析掩膜版设计中的重要问题,并对设计制作的传感器进行静态测试,取得了满意的实验结果。     

Shape design sensitivity analysis for non-linear anisotropic heat conducting solids and shape optimization by the BEM

Shape design sensitivity analysis (SDSA) expressions have been derived for non-linear anisotropic heat conducting solid bodies by following the material derivative concept and adjoint variable method of optimal shape design given in the literature. The variation of a general integral functional has been described in terms of primary and adjoint quantities evaluated at the varying boundaries. As an example problem in shape optimization, optimal outer boundary profiles of an orthotropic solid body are obtained by the boundary element method (BEM), after reformulating the SDSA equations in a form which is most suitable for the BEM.     

Riemannian optimization and multidisciplinary design optimization

Riemannian Optimization (RO) generalizes standard optimization methods from Euclidean spaces to Riemannian manifolds. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) problems exist on Riemannian manifolds, and with the differential geometry framework which we have previously developed, we can now apply RO techniques to MDO. Here, we provide background theory and a literature review for RO and give the necessary formulae to implement the Steepest Descent Method (SDM), Newton’s Method (NM), and the Conjugate Gradient Method (CGM), in Riemannian form, on MDO problems. We then compare the performance of the Riemannian and Euclidean SDM, NM, and CGM algorithms on several test problems (including a satellite design problem from the MDO literature); we use a calculated step size, line search, and geodesic search in our comparisons. With the framework’s induced metric, the RO algorithms are generally not as effective as their Euclidean counterparts, and line search is consistently better than geodesic search. In our post-experimental analysis, we also show how the optimization trajectories for the Riemannian SDM and CGM relate to design coupling and thereby provide some explanation for the observed optimization behaviour. This work is only a first step in applying RO to MDO, however, and the use of quasi-Newton methods and different metrics should be explored in future research.     

基于均匀设计及非线性偏最小二乘法的非闭合电极ECT传感器参数优化设计

提出了一种非闭合电极电容层析成像(ECT)传感器结构参数的优化方法.采用均匀设计结合非线性偏最小二乘(NPLS)回归,提取传感器结构参数(电极极板的宽度 L、绝缘外壳的壁厚δ1.、屏蔽罩与绝缘外壳间距δ2及绝缘外壳材料的相对介电常数ε)与待优化指标(敏感场的均匀度及灵敏度指标p1、最大与最小电容的比值 K)间的函数关系,建立相应的优化目标泛函,通过对优化目标泛函的求解,最终获得传感器结构参数的最优值.并以 10 电极非闭合电极 ECT 传感器为研究对象,进行了结构参数的优化设计,根据优化结果设计制作了非闭合电极 ECT 传感器,对其成像进行了仿真与实测.结果表明,参数优化后的传感器图像重建质量优于未优化的传感器.     

Study of the sensitivity of the acoustic waveguide sensor

The sensitivity of the acoustic waveguide sensor to mass deposition in the presence of liquid was optimized as a function of the over-layer thickness. The waveguide geometry consisted of a 0.2-2.2-microm poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA) over-layer deposited on the surface of a shear acoustic wave device and supported a Love wave. The response of each polymer-coated waveguide was initially assessed by monitoring the frequency and insertion loss of the device in the presence of air. Sensitivity to viscous and mass loading was studied by recording the amplitude and phase of the wave during the application of water and of a supported lipid bilayer, respectively, on the device surface. Supported bilayers are a versatile system for mass calibration in the presence of liquid because they can be formed spontaneously on a hydrophilic surface, resulting in a layer of reproducible mass density. Results clearly showed that the response of both amplitude and phase depends on the over-layer thickness and increases with the thickness of the polymer layer. Phase was generally found to be more sensitive than amplitude to both viscous water and mass loading. The maximum sensitivity to vesicles deposition was measured at 250 cm2 g(-1) and was detected when 1.3 microm of PMMA was used as a waveguide layer. Results showed that the sensitivity of the acoustic wave sensor can be improved by simply increasing the thickness of the PMMA and that supported phospholipid layers can form an ideal system for both mass calibration and interfacial modification.     

Squeeze film effect for the design of an ultrasonic tactile plate

Most tactile displays currently built rely on pin-based arrays. However, this kind of tactile device is not always appropriate when we need to give the illusion of finely textured surfaces. In this paper, we describe the squeeze film effect between a plate and a finger, and we use this effect to design an ultrasonic tactile plate. The plate is actuated by piezoelectric ceramics. Ultrasonic vibrations are thus produced and are capable of generating the squeeze film effect. This enables us to simulate variable friction on the surface of the plate. In order to identify the squeeze film phenomenon, this study considers the case where a finger, with a planar bottom surface and with epidermal ridges, is placed on a rapidly vibrating plate. The overpressure is calculated and the result enables us to assess the relative coefficient of friction as a function of the vibration amplitude of the plate. Based on this principle, and using both analytic and FE method studies, and given ergonomic and stimulation (squeeze film) requirements, we show that it is possible to design a tactile plate which is capable of giving programmable tactile sensations. We conclude by comparing the results obtained from our simulations with experimental results.     

Applications of BEM in sensitivity analysis and optimization

A general approach to shape design sensitivity analysis and optimal design for static and vibration problems using boundary elements is presented. The adjoint variable method is applied to obtain first-order sensitivities for the effect of boundary shape variations. The boundary element procedure for numerical calculations of sensitivities are used. Typical objective and constraints functionals are described for shape optimal design. Several numerical examples of applications of boundary elements in shape optimal design are presented.It is a part of the paper New trends and applications of BEM in sensitivity analysis and optimization—a survey, presented during International IABEM-92 Symposium on Boundary Element Methods at University of Colorado, Boulder, 3–6 August 1992     

Continuum‐based design sensitivity analysis and optimization of nonlinear shell structures using meshfree method

A continuum‐based shape and configuration design sensitivity analysis (DSA) method for a finite deformation elastoplastic shell structure has been developed. Shell elastoplasticity is treated using the projection method that performs the return mapping on the subspace defined by the zero‐normal stress condition. An incrementally objective integration scheme is used in the context of finite deformation shell analysis, wherein the stress objectivity is preserved for finite rotation increments. The material derivative concept is used to develop a continuum‐based shape and configuration DSA method. Significant computational efficiency is obtained by solving the design sensitivity equation without iteration at each converged load step using the same consistent tangent stiffness matrix. Numerical implementation of the proposed shape and configuration DSA is carried out using the meshfree method. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method is illustrated using numerical examples. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Considerations in the design of an improved transportable neutron spectrometer

The Transportable Neutron Spectrometer (TNS) has been used by the Ministry of Defence for over 15 years to characterise neutron fields in workplace environments and provide local correction factors for both area and personal dosimeters. In light of advances in neutron spectrometry, a programme to evaluate and improve TNS has been initiated. This paper describes TNS, presents its operation in known radioisotope fields and in a reactor environment. Deficiencies in the operation of the instrument are highlighted, together with proposals for updating the response functions and spectrum unfolding methodologies.     

Second-order sensitivity effects on optical fiber polarimetric temperature sensor and strain sensor

We analyze the second-order sensitivity effects of a polarimetric temperature sensor and a strain sensor. Such effects are shown to be important for a larger temperature change or strain and are demonstrated by the analysis of the errors between the experimentally measured data and the curves of linear and second-order polynomial regressions, respectively. It is also shown that for a small temperature change or strain, higher accurate values of the two parameters can be obtained only from linear regression. The cross-sensitivity effect is also studied experimentally.     

A novel silicon nanotips antireflection surface for the micro Sun sensor

We have developed a new technique to fabricate an antireflection surface using silicon nanotips for use on a micro Sun sensor for Mars rovers. We have achieved randomly distributed nanotips of radii spanning from 20 to 100 nm and aspect ratio of approximately 200 using a two-step dry etching process. The 30 degrees specular reflectance at the target wavelength of 1 microm is only about 0.09%, nearly 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of bare silicon, and the hemispherical reflectance is approximately 8%. When the density and aspect ratio of these nanotips are changed, a change in reflectance is demonstrated. When surfaces are covered with these nanotips, the critical problem of ghost images that are caused by multiple internal reflections in a micro Sun sensor was solved.