Sensitivity analysis and optimization of coupled thermal and flow problems with applications to contraction design

The finite element method and the Newton - Raphson solution algorithm are combined to solve the momentum, mass and energy conservation equations for coupled flow problems. Design sensitivities for a generalised response function with respect to design parameters which describe shape, material property and load data are evaluated via the direct differentiation method. The efficiently computed sensitivities are verified by comparison with computationally intensive, finite difference sensitivity approximations. The design sensitivities are then used in a numerical optimization algorithm to minimize the pressure drop in flow through contractions. Both laminar and turbulent flows are considered. In the turbulent flow problems the time-averaged momentum and mass conservation equations are solved using a mixing length turbulence model.