Shape Optimization of Devices Taking Into Account Production Tolerances

This paper presents a new technique of shape optimization of devices taking into account acceptable tolerances of their dimensions. The technique is based on a combination of classic optimization procedures and a sensitivity analysis carried out in several steps in the course of the optimization process. This analysis is able to decide whether the given variant is worth further optimizing or the changes in the objective functions are unacceptably high even with small variations of parameters (such a variant is immediately rejected). The power of the methodology is illustrated on an example of induction brazing, whose results are discussed.