Modeling a coriolis mass flow meter for shape optimization

Modeling a Coriolis mass-flow meter for shape optimization is considered. The optimization should enhance the performance of the meter by improving several performance criteria like the measurement sensitivity. These performance criteria are improved by optimizing parameters that define the shape of the tube in the mass-flow meter. A dynamic model is used to obtain the performance criteria for a set of shape parameters. The tube is modeled using a flexible multibody approach, where an existing beam-element is modified to include the effect of the fluid flow. Besides the calculation of the performance criteria, the model is used to calculate the sensitivities of the performance criteria to the shape parameters, because those sensitivities are useful for the optimization. Results from modeling the performance criteria and the parameter sensitivities are shown for a U-shaped Coriolis mass-flow meter. Finally, some preliminary results from shape optimization are demonstrated.