Abstract
In this paper, a continuum-based design sensitivity analysis (DSA) method is developed for the weakly coupled thermo-elasticity problems. The temperature and displacement fields are described in a common domain. Boundary value problems such as an equilibrium equation and a heat conduction equation in steady state are considered. The direct differentiation method of continuum-based DSA is employed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of sensitivity computation. We derive design sensitivity expressions with respect to thermal conductivity in heat conduction problem and Young's modulus in equilibrium equation. The sensitivities are evaluated using the finite element method. The obtained analytical sensitivities are compared with the finite differencing to yield very accurate results. Extensive developments of this method are useful and applicable for the optimal design problems incorporating welding and thermal deformation problems.