Variation of a general integral functional, defined over a three-dimensional domain and its bounding surface, is obtained with respect to domain variations in a thermoelastic solid body by employing the adjoint variable method and the material derivative concept, as in isothermal structural optimization problems. Since no variational principles are utilized, it is asserted that the present procedure may be applied to other physical systems. For illustration purposes, an axisymmetric problem involving a hollow cylinder is taken, for which analytical solutions are possible for the field variables. The optimal outer radius is calculated, however, through an iterative minimization algorithm utilizing the shape sensitivity expressions. For the numerical calculations, two different objective junctions are adopted leading to two independent optimal radii.
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