• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 2013

In this paper, a shape design sensitivity analysis(DSA) method is presented for Mindlin plates using an isogeometric approach. The isogeometric method possesses desirable advantages; the representation of exact geometry and the higher order inter-element continuity, which lead to the fast convergence of solution as well as accurate sensitivity results. Unlike the finite element methods using linear shape functions, the isogeometric method considers the exact normal vector and curvature of the CAD geometry, taking advantages of higher order NURBS basis functions. A selective reduced integration(SRI) technique is incorporated to overcome the difficulty of 'shear locking' phenomenon. This simple technique is surprisingly helpful for the accuracy of the isogeometric shape sensitivity without complicated formulation. Through the numerical examples of plate bending problems, the accuracy of the proposed isogeometric analysis method is compared with that of finite element one. Also, the isogeometric shape sensitivity turns out to be very accurate when compared with finite difference sensitivity.