Aeroelastic Topology Optimization of Wing Structure Based on Moving Boundary Meshfree Method

A new fuzzy strategy for size and topology optimization of truss structures

The center of mass and the inertia tensor are important parameters characterizing the kinetic properties of many structural systems, e.g., the rotor, spacecraft, and aircraft. In these occasions, designs not consistent with the requirements on the center of mass and inertia tensor cannot be accepted. In this paper, mathematical models are established to carry out the topology optimization of continua considering the mass and inertia characteristics. Two numerical examples, one for minimizing the static compliance considering locations of the center of mass and the other for maximizing the fundamental eigenfrequency considering both locations of the center of mass and values of the inertia products, are presented to demonstrate that the requirements on mass and inertia characteristics could have a profound influence on the final optimized layouts in structural topology optimization problems. On the other hand, the mass and inertia characteristics can also be tuned by topology optimization methods. In the second numerical problem, the smooth minimum operator is used to approximate the fundamental eigenfrequency with the first 4 eigenfrequencies so that the possible non-differentiability of the repeated eigenfrequencies can be avoided. Due to its extreme importance in engineering practice, the work of this paper can be useful to carry out designs in accordance with the requirements on the mass and inertia characteristics under the framework of traditional density-based structural topology optimization methods.

Robust topology optimization of multi-material structures under load uncertainty using the alternating active-phase method

A multi-mesh strategy is employed to reduce the computational costs associated with incorporating correlated uncertainties into structural topology optimization problems. Uncertainty quantification is achieved through an existing perturbation-based method. This method transforms uncertainties in stiffness, such as geometric and material property randomness, into an augmented deterministic topology optimization problem. Although the approach has proven quite efficient in general, the uncertainty sources are tied to the finite element analysis mesh. Computational costs then rise significantly when refining the finite element mesh in the presence of correlated random variables. We therefore propose separating the analysis and uncertainty mesh. The technique is evaluated on problems of expected stiffness with uncertainties in elastic modulus and compared to solutions found using the standard perturbation and Monte Carlo topology optimization algorithms.

This paper will give a short survey about topology optimization of structures. It is particularly focused on topological shape optimization of structures using level-set methods, including the level-set based standard methods and the level-set based alternative methods. The former often directly solve the Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equation (H-J PDE) to obtain the boundary velocity field using Finite Differential Methods (FDM), and the later commonly employ parametric or equivalent methods to evaluate the velocity field without directly solving the H-J PDE. The unique characteristics of the level-set based topology optimization methods are discussed, and a future perspective and prospects in this research area is also included. A benchmark numerical example is used to showcase the effectiveness of the level-set based methods.

In this paper, design-dependent pressure loads are addressed for topology optimization problems of multiphase material structures. The modeling of unidirectional load distribution with respect to the material density is studied and mathematical formulations of exponential form are established for the first time to model unidirectional pressure loads on the moving surface and contact surface of fixed shape, respectively. In both load cases, sensitivity analysis scheme of the structural compliance is developed to show the effects of the design-dependent loads. By means of 2D and 3D numerical examples, comparative studies are performed in detail to show the effects of different load cases upon the optimal configurations. It is seen that the proposed design procedure is reliable to deal with the design-dependent load cases.

This thesis aims at understanding and improving topology optimization techniques focusing on density-based level-set methods and geometrical nonlinearities. Central in this work are the numerical modeling of the mechanical response of a design and the consistency of the optimization process itself. Concerning the first topic, we investigate different means to improve the robustness of density-based numerical models including geometrical nonlinearities. The conventional approach (scaling the local material properties) can result in convergence problems due to excessive deformation in low-stiffness finite elements. To avoid excessive deformation, we combine the element connectivity parameterization method (adapting the connectivity between finite elements) with level-set-based topology optimization. Furthermore, we achieve greater robustness of analysis method using a second and improved approach called element deformation scaling. This approach eliminates the need for solving internal equilibrium equations (needed for the element connectivity parameterization method) via an explicit relation between the local internal and global external displacement field. The second focus of this thesis is on the optimization process of level-set-based topology optimization, and in particular its numerical consistency. We observe that signed-distance reinitialization of the level-set function affects the shape of a design in the optimization process. To minimize this effect, we propose a discrete level-set method that is based on an approximate Heaviside function and focusing on the implementation. Furthermore, we also propose a level-set-based topology optimization method using an exact Heaviside function and mathematical programming that effectively eliminates the need for reinitialization. We demonstrate that our density-based level-set method is closely related to conventional density-based topology optimization methods, while offering the advantage of more control over the geometrical complexity. On the other hand, we confirm that the dependence of the final result on the initial design which remains one of the big challenges for level-set-based topology optimization. The potential of the proposed level-set method is shown by applying it on problems with stress constraints and geometrical nonlinearities and performing manufacturing tolerant topology optimization. Finally, this thesis offers a review of level-set methods for structural topology optimization to identify and discuss the different approaches that are available in literature. We can distinguish between level-set methods by examination of their design parameterization, sensitivities, update procedures and regularization techniques. A level-set-based design parameterization offers the advantage of a crisp distinction between subdomains. For this reason, X-FEM approaches and conforming discretizations are an interesting option to retain the crisp nature of the level-set-based description of the design. Many level-set methods are combined with density-based numerical models and are, therefore, closely related to conventional density-based topology optimization methods. In particular, recently proposed projection methods have much in common with a level-set-based design description. The results of level-set-based TO methods often rely heavily on regularization techniques that introduce inconsistencies in the optimization process. Numerical consistency does not necessarily lead to the best search direction, but is essential to find a Karush-Kuhn-Tucker point of the discretized optimization problem.

A method is developed to systematically remove and reintroduce low density elements from and into the finite element mesh on which the structural topology optimization problem is defined. The material density field which defines the topology and the local ‘stiffness’ of the structure is optimally distributed via non‐linear programming techniques. To prevent elements from having zero stiffness, an arbitrarily small lower bound on the material density is typically imposed to ensure that the global stiffness matrix does not become singular. While this approach works well for most minimum compliance problems, the presence of low density elements can cause computational problems, particularly in structures that exhibit geometric non‐linearities, e.g. in compliant mechanisms. To resolve this problem, a systematic approach for removing and reintroducing low density elements is presented, and the substantial performance improvements both in design and computational efficiency of the method over current methods are discussed. Several structures and compliant mechanisms are designed to demonstrate the method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Structural topology optimization.- On basic properties of Michell's structures.- Validation of numerical method by analytical benchmarks and verification of exact solutions by numerical methods.- Introduction to shape and topology optimization.- Homogenization method for shape and topology optimization.- Level set method for shape and topology optimization.- Compliance minimization of two-material elastic structures.- Some notes on topology optimization of vibrating continuum structures.- Topology optimization of vibrating continuum structures for maximum values of simple and multiple eigenfrequencies and frequency gaps.- On optimum shape design and periodicity of band-gape beam structures.- Topological design for minimum dynamic compliance of continuum structures subjected to forced vibration.- Topological design for minimum sound emission from bi-material structures subjected to forced vibration.- Discrete material optimization of vibrating laminated composite plates for minimum sound emission.- Optimization of diffusive transport problems.- Fluid topology optimization: stokes and Navier-stokes models.- Topology optimization of coupled multi-physics problems.- Topology optimization based on the extended finite element method.- Topology optimization of meso- and nano-scale problems.- Topology optimization under uncertainty.- A brief review of numerical methods of structural topology optimization.- The free material design in planar elasticity.

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) connects CAE with standard CAD design tools and has been utilized for a decade in structural optimization. FEA has a number of drawbacks, including a lack of linkage between analytic and geometric models, a shortage of continuity between components, and a lack of accuracy for high-order elements. Isogeometric analysis effectively overcomes these obstacles. This paper proposes the isogeometric topological optimization mathematical model depending on the asymmetric constitutive relationship of tension and compression microscopic materials. We provide a new density-based topology optimization formulation in which the design domain is limited to the B-spline space. A rectangular domain with a tensor-product is embedded in a design domain that is arbitrarily shaped. The density field is represented using B-splines. The intrinsic filter provided by the B-spline representation for topology optimization is governed by the degrees of B-spline and the knot spans. This B-spline effectively removes numerical artifacts and controls the minimum feature-length in; when the B-spline basis functions span many analysis elements. Benchmark problems in structural topology optimization are computed through Evolutionary Structural Optimization (ESO) algorithm. Comparisons of the optimal structure topologies using finite element analysis and isogeometric collocation methods are analyzed. The influence of different tension-compression stiffness ratios on the final structure topologies is listed and analyzed. The numerical results show the reliability and performance of the proposed mathematical formulation and asymmetry of natural structure.

A topology optimization, based on a coupling method of finite element and meshless method, is proposed for continuum structure. A reasonable arrangement of the meshless domain can guarantee the accuracy of the meshless methods and meanwhile keep the computational efficiency of the finite element method. Besides, as the coupling method is adopted, the displacement boundary conditions are applied to finite elements nodes by standard finite element method. A dual-level density approximant is carried out to approximate and interpolate a unified and continuous density field. An unstable nodes phenomenon is observed in the interface domain, leading to nonconvergence of the equilibrium iterations. A smooth blending function and an energy convergence criterion are used to circumvent the convergent difficulty. Three benchmark problems of topology optimization are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Neither “islanding” phenomenon nor other common numerical instabilities of the SIMP method occur in this approach.

This paper presents an efficient and comprehensive MATLAB code to solve two-dimensional structural topology optimization problems, including minimum mean compliance, compliant mechanism synthesis and multi-load compliance problems. The Unsmooth Variational Topology Optimization (UNVARTOP) method, developed by the authors in a previous work, is used in the topology optimization code, based on the finite element method (FEM), to compute the sensitivity and update the topology. The paper also includes instructions to improve the bisection algorithm, modify the computation of the Lagrangian multiplier by using an Augmented Lagrangian to impose the constraint, implement heat conduction problems and extend the code to three-dimensional topology optimization problems. The code, intended for students and newcomers in topology optimization, is included as an appendix (Appendix A) and it can be downloaded from https://github.com/DanielYago together with supplementary material.

A globally convergent method to accelerate topology optimization using on-the-fly model reduction

Topology optimization of continuum structures is a recent field in structural optimization. However, an increasing research activity in this area has been developed since the statement of the very first formulations. These formulations try to obtain the most adequate material distribution that satisfies the imposed structural limitations. The existence or absence of material in each part of the domain is usually defined by using a continuum variable (the relative density) in order to avoid dealing with a discrete optimization problem. This continuum approach of the material properties present important advantages since conventionaloptimization algorithms can be used. However, numerical models must be considered in order to develop the structural analysis for intermediate values of the relative densities. In this paper, we present some improvements in a minimum weight approach of the structural topology optimization problem. The main goal of this paper is to present an improved formulation that tries to reach binary 0-1 material distributions by using a continuum approach of the design variables. Furthermore, a perimeter penalization is included in the objective function to simplify the solutions obtained. In addition, some computational aspects are considered in order to reduce the computational effort. Finally, we compare the solutions obtained by using these formulations in two application examples.

According to the requirements of the aerospace industry for high strength, high stiffness, and lightweight structural parts, topology optimization has been proved to be an effective product design method. As one of the most conceptual and prospective structural optimization design methods, topology optimization intends to seek the optimal layout of materials in an allowed design region under a given load and boundary conditions. Thus, the object of study in the article is the method of topological optimization of aircraft structures. The goal of this article is to analyze the existing approaches, algorithms, as well as application of the method of topological optimization in the aerospace field in applied problems. The tasks are to describe the existing various approaches methods, features, and research directions of topological optimization as well as to study the possibility of application in the manufacturing process of composite structures. The following results were obtained. The optimization methods are briefly explained and compared, and the advantages and limitations of each approach are discussed. The various ways of simultaneous optimization of fiber orientation and structural topology were described and analyzed. The features of different methods of continuous fiber orientation optimization method were reviewed. The discrete fiber orientation optimization methods were represented. The possibility of multi-scale concurrent topological optimization was described. The combination of topology optimization and additive manufacturing was considered. Finally, the topology optimization of FRC structures which have been resolved in literature are reviewed and the potential research fields requiring more investigation are pointed out. Conclusions. In the article, a comprehensive review of the topology optimization design of FRC structures was presented. The promising way is to combine topology optimization with additive manufacturing techniques. However, these proposed methods may not suitable for other more complex problems, such as bucking stability and natural frequency. Hence, the topology optimization design of complex FRC components under complicated conditions is the main challenge in the future. This can be a new trend in the topology design of FRC structures.