Optimal design of AUV endcaps

This paper proposes a novel formulation for the optimal design of the endcap of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Conventional endcap structures have a shape of a flat circular plate. Hanwha Research and Development Center noticed that circular endcaps are substantially heavy and decided to design hemiellipsoidal endcaps in such a way that their weight is minimized. In order to achieve the goal, we suggest conducting shape optimization and thickness optimization tasks simultaneously in determining hemiellipsoidal endcaps with minimum weight. The weight of hemiellipsoidal endcaps should be minimized such that they do not fail due to either yielding or buckling. Therefore, the design optimization formulation requires performing multidisciplinary optimization during the design process. We determine solutions to the design optimization problem in a unique and globally optimal manner. In order to explore the significance of the design optimization formulation, we compare the weight of optimally designed hemiellipsoidal endcaps with that of conventional circular endcaps. We demonstrate that hemiellipsoidal endcaps with minimum weight are considerably lighter than circular endcaps.