OPTIMAL-DESIGN FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT IN A CRACKED PRESSURE-VESSEL OF A TURBOSHAFT

The authors study the shape optimization of a complex cracked shell un der complex criteria. The shell is one of various cases of a turboshaf t, and optimization criteria are associated to the cost, the technolog y, and above all the working conditions for the turboshaft. The optimi zation criteria involved are of course the weight of the structure, bu t also the plastic instability and critical stress intensity factor. A ll computations have been made with the Ansys finite element program i n which an optimization module exists.