Piezo-clamp design optimization.

<p>(A) Prototypical solid models considered for design optimization. (B) Example results (material safety factor) obtained by FEA. (C) Optimization chart: we simultaneously maximized the rod-clamping force and the minimum safety factor of the piezo-clamp material. (D) Optimized profile of the piezo-clamp, which highlights the geometrical quantities that vary during the optimization process. (E) Sensitivity of the rod-clamping force (as obtained by FEA) to the gap between the rod and the piezo-clamp.