Control of the finite element discretization error during the convergence of structural shape optimization algorithms

[EN] This work analyzes the influence of the discretization error contained in the Finite Element (FE) analyses of each design configuration proposed by structural shape optimization algorithms over the behaviour of the algorithm. If the FE analyses are not accurate enough, the final solution will neither be optimal nor satisfy the constraints. The need for the use of adaptive FE analysis techniques in shape optimum design will be shown. The paper also proposes the use of the algorithm described in [1] in order to reduce the computational cost associated to the adaptive FE analysis of each geometrical configuration when evolutive optimization algorithms are used.¿
The authors have been sponsored by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación through the projects DPI2008-05250 (first author) and DPI2007-66773-C02-01 (second and third authors). The second and third authors have also been sponsored by the Generalitat Valenciana and the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.