Abstract
Welding is widely used for constructions, automobiles and space structures. This paper presents an optimization method for an arc welding position of sheet metal structure. The arc welding shape is assumed to be movable in the normal direction to the welding and in the tangential direction to the plate surface. As an application of this solution, the squared error norm of maximum principal stress is minimized subject to welding length constraint. The design problem is formulated as a distributed-parameter shape optimization problem, and the shape gradient function is derived using the material derivative method. The optimal shape and position is determined by apply the shape gradient function derived to the H^1 gradient method. Design example show that the effectiveness of this approach for designing the welding position and also the shape of sheet metal structures.
