Three-dimensional boundary element thermal shape sensitivity analysis

A computationally efficient and accurate shape design sensitivity analysis approach for the thermal response of 3D solid objects is presented which utilizes a direct, singular, boundary element analysis formulation. The theoretical formulation for the primary response (the surface temperature and normal heat flux) sensitivities and the secondary response (tangential components of the heat flux, vector, interior point temperature and heat flux vector components) sensitivities are presented. A number of computational issues related to the overall efficiency of implementation of these formulations are discussed. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of this approach.