Bi-directional evolutionary topology optimization of continuum structures with one or multiple materials

There are several well-established techniques for the generation of solid-void optimal topologies such as solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method and evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) and its later version bi-directional ESO (BESO) methods. Utilizing the material interpolation scheme, a new BESO method with a penalization parameter is developed in this paper. A number of examples are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed method for achieving convergent optimal solutions for structures with one or multiple materials. The results show that the optimal designs from the present BESO method are independent on the degree of penalization. The resulted optimal topologies and values of the objective function compare well with those of SIMP method.     

Lightweight design of bus frames from multi-material topology optimization to cross-sectional size optimization

A comprehensive solution for bus frame design is proposed to bridge multi-material topology optimization and cross-sectional size optimization. Three types of variables (material, topology and size) and two types of constraints (static stiffness and frequencies) are considered to promote this practical design. For multi-material topology optimization, an ordered solid isotropic material with penalization interpolation is used to transform the multi-material selection problem into a pure topology optimization problem, without introducing new design variables. Then, based on the previously optimal topology result, cross-sectional sizes of the bus frame are optimized to further seek the least mass. Sequential linear programming is preferred to solve the two structural optimization problems. Finally, an engineering example verifies the effectiveness of the presented method, which bridges the gap between topology optimization and size optimization, and achieves a more lightweight bus frame than traditional single-material topology optimization.     

适用于支护拓扑优化的双向渐进优化方法

利用近年来发展的渐进结构优化方法(ESO)的概念,发展了适用于支护拓扑优化问题的双向渐进结构优化方法(BESO)。本文方法能在优化过程中控制开孔数,有效地避免了棋盘格式的出现,提出了两个解决振荡问题的技巧。将加固后的岩体看成人工支护材料,可以把加固优化的问题转化为人工支护材料在原岩中的分布的拓扑优化问题。建立了防治底臌帮臌的准则及其敏感度,研究了均匀地基不同地应力条件给定加固量时使得底臌帮臌最小的洞室开挖支护的最优拓扑。最优设计的底臌量明显小于经验设计的底臌量,证明了方法的有效性。     

遗传演化结构优化算法

ESO算法是近年来提出的一种结构优化算法,它可以应用于多个领域。在土木工程方面,利用ESO算法可以寻找结构最优的拓扑形状,指导结构的设计。但这种算法存在先天的局限性,即无法保证它所得到的解是最优解。为此,将遗传算法与ESO算法揉合在一起,形成了一种新的遗传ESO算法,简称为GESO算法。GESO算法把群体的概念借鉴到ESO中,巧妙地解决了遗传算法费时和ESO易陷入局部最优解的两个问题。实例证明它得到的结果大多优于ESO算法。     

连续体结构的变密度拓扑优化方法研究

为了实现使连续体结构的体积约束和柔顺度最小的拓扑优化及解决采用经典变密度法引起的结构优化结果存在如灰度单元、棋盘格等数值不稳定问题，提出了一种新的拓扑优化方法。首先，采用改进的固体各向同性材料惩罚法作为材料插值方案，建立结构拓扑优化模型；其次，通过引入基于高斯权重函数的敏度过滤法和设计新灰度单元抑制算子来解决数值不稳定问题；最后，借助优化准则法求解优化模型。通过算例分析可知：新策略可以改进拓扑优化方法；新的拓扑优化方法具有收敛速度较快、能更好地获取柔顺度小且拓扑构型好的优化结构和抑制灰度单元产生等优势。研究结果为其他连续体结构的拓扑优化研究提供了新思路。     

基于ESO的夹层阻尼圆锯片减振降噪拓扑优化设计

针对夹层阻尼圆锯片的减振降噪拓扑优化设计,基于渐进拓扑ESO（evolutionary structural optimization）算法,寻求阻尼材料最佳布局. 导出了单元删除方法和损耗因子灵敏度计算方法,建立了拓扑优化流程,将损耗因子灵敏度作为衡量单元对结构损耗因子贡献量大小的标准,通过判断阻尼材料各单元对整体结构的减振效果,删除无效单元,得到满足刚度条件下的夹层阻尼圆锯片结构最优配置,使其在减振降噪的同时达到一定的刚度要求. 通过3种圆锯片模型的阻尼损耗因子对比,验证了优化后的圆锯片具有最佳的减振降噪效果．     

Topology optimization of composite material plate with respect to sound radiation

In this paper, topology optimization of composite material plate with respect to minimization of the sound power radiation has been studied. A new low noise design method based on topology optimization is proposed, which provides great guidance for acoustic designers. The structural vibrations are excited by external harmonic mechanical load with prescribed frequency and amplitude. The sound power is calculated using boundary element method. An extended solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) model is introduced for acoustic design sensitivity analysis in topology optimization, where the same penalization is applied for the stiffness and mass of the structural volume elements. Volumetric densities of stiffer material are chosen as design variables. Finally, taking a simple supported thin plate as a simulation example, the sound power radiation from structures subjected to forced vibration can be considerably reduced, leading to a reduction of 20 dB. It is shown that the optimal topology is easy to manufacture at low frequency, while as the loading frequency increases, the optimal topology shows a more and more complicated periodicity which makes it difficult to manufacture.     

Topology optimization of continuum structures for natural frequencies considering casting constraints

A method for the topology optimization on the natural frequency of continuum structures with casting constraints is proposed. The objective is to maximize the natural frequency of vibrating continuum structures subject to casting constraints. When the natural frequencies of the considered structures are maximized using the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) model, artificial localized modes may occur in areas where elements are assigned with lower density values. In this article, the topology optimization is performed by the bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) method. The effects of different locations of concentrated lump mass, different volume fractions and meshing sizes on the final topologies are compared. Both two and four parting directions are investigated. Several two- and three-dimensional numerical examples show that the proposed BESO method is effective in achieving convergent solid–void optimal solutions for a variety of frequency optimization problems of continuum structures.     

钢筋混凝土结构的应力拓扑优化方法研究

基于预测混凝土失效行为的Drucker-Prager(D-P)屈服准则,研究了进行钢筋混凝土结构配筋设计的应力拓扑优化方法。结合扩展的双材料密度惩罚模型,优化问题构造为以单元人工密度为设计变量、混凝土材料Drucker-Prager屈服函数为约束条件的钢筋用量最小化问题。为合理定义混凝土应力并防止应力奇异解现象,采用局部应力插值模型和ε-松弛方法对混凝土应力约束条件进行处理。推导约束函数的伴随法灵敏度计算公式,运用基于梯度的连续性优化算法求解优化问题。数值算例验证了所提优化模型的正确性及数值算法的有效性,并通过与传统最小柔顺性拓扑优化结果的比较,说明了该文方法能够充分利用混凝土的抗压能力和钢筋的抗拉能力,设计结果更为实用。     

Stress-based topology optimization of concrete structures with prestressing reinforcements

Following the extended two-material density penalization scheme, a stress-based topology optimization method for the layout design of prestressed concrete structures is proposed. The Drucker–Prager yield criterion is used to predict the asymmetrical strength failure of concrete. The prestress is considered by making a reasonable assumption on the prestressing orientation in each element and adding an additional load vector to the structural equilibrium function. The proposed optimization model is thus formulated as to minimize the reinforcement material volume under Drucker–Prager yield constraints on elemental concrete local stresses. In order to give a reasonable definition of concrete local stress and prevent the stress singularity phenomenon, the local stress interpolation function and the ? -relaxation technique are adopted. The topology optimization problem is solved using the method of moving asymptotes combined with an active set strategy. Numerical examples are given to show the efficiency of the proposed optimization method in the layout design of prestressed concrete structures.     

约束阻尼板结构振动声辐射优化

根据经典薄板理论,建立约束阻尼板有限元模型,将其视作镶嵌于无限大刚性障板,利用Rayleigh积分法推导结构的辐射声功率及灵敏度表达式。以一阶峰值频率或频带激励下的声功率最小化为目标,约束阻尼材料体积分数为约束条件,建立拓扑优化模型,采用渐进优化算法,编制了优化计算程序,获得了约束阻尼材料的最优拓扑构型,并与全覆盖板及基板的辐射声功率进行了对比。研究表明：以声功率最小化为目标,对约束阻尼材料布局进行拓扑优化,能有效抑制结构的振动声辐射,为结构低噪声设计提供了重要的理论参考和技术手段。     

Multi-material topology optimization of laminated composite beam cross sections

This paper presents a novel framework for simultaneous optimization of topology and laminate properties in structural design of laminated composite beam cross sections. The structural response of the beam is evaluated using a beam finite element model comprising a cross section analysis tool which is suitable for the analysis of anisotropic and inhomogeneous sections of arbitrary geometry. The optimization framework is based on a multi-material topology optimization model in which the design variables represent the amount of the given materials in the cross section. Existing material interpolation, penalization, and filtering schemes have been extended to accommodate any number of anisotropic materials. The methodology is applied to the optimal design of several laminated composite beams with different cross sections. Solutions are presented for a minimum compliance (maximum stiffness) problem with constraints on the weight, and the shear and mass center positions. The practical applicability of the method is illustrated by performing optimal design of an idealized wind turbine blade subjected to static loading of aerodynamic nature. The numerical results suggest that the proposed framework is suitable for simultaneous optimization of cross section topology and identification of optimal laminate properties in structural design of laminated composite beams.     

Multiphase topology optimization with a single variable using the phase-field design method

In this study, a multimaterial topology optimization method using a single variable is proposed by combining the solid isotropic material with penalization method and the reaction-diffusion equation. Unlike ordinary multimaterial optimization, which requires several variables depending on the number of material types, this method intends to represent various materials as one variable. The proposed method combines two special functions in the sensitivity analysis of the objective function to converge the design variable into prespecified density values defined for each of the multimaterials. The composition constraint based on a normal distribution function is also introduced to estimate the distribution of each target density value in a single variable. It enables density exchange between multiple materials by increasing or decreasing the amount of a specific material. The proposed method is applied to structural and electromagnetic problems to verify its effectiveness, and its usefulness is also confirmed from the viewpoint of cost and computation time.     

基于应变能的预应力平面实体结构拓扑优化设计

研究了预应力平面实体钢结构拓扑优化设计问题。建立了以索力值和结构拓扑为设计变量,以结构储存应变能为约束条件,以结构重量最小为目标函数的数学优化模型。在求解方法上,首先以结构储存应变能最小(刚度最大)确定施加在结构上的索力值,然后采用渐进结构优化法(ESO方法)删除低应变能的单元实现结构的拓扑优化并减轻结构重量。算例结果与相应体系受力性能的结论相吻合,表明本文所提出的优化方法是可行的。     

拓扑相关荷载作用下结构拓扑优化的水平集方法

发展了一种利用水平集演化技术求解拓扑相关荷载作用下结构拓扑优化问题的数值方法。通过引入水平集函数,我们以隐含的方式对结构的拓扑和形状作了描述,从而把拓扑优化问题转化为了寻求最优水平集函数的数学规划问题。利用基于连续体概念的灵敏度分析技术,构造了用于驱动水平集演化的速度场。由于结构的边界可以用零水平集加以描述,因此利用适当的数学变换,我们可以方便地处理施加在结构上的拓扑相关荷载,这样就避免了以往算法中繁复的边界提取工作以及为了处理拓扑相关荷载所采取的特殊技巧。文末的数值算例表明了提出的优化方法在处理此类问题时所具有的独到的优越性。     

Adaptive moving mesh level set method for structure topology optimization

The level set method is a promising approach to provide flexibility in dealing with topological changes during structural optimization. Normally, the level set surface, which depicts a structure's topology by a level contour set of a continuous scalar function embedded in space, is interpolated on a fixed mesh. The accuracy of the boundary positions is therefore largely dependent on the mesh density, a characteristic of any Eulerian expression when using a fixed mesh. This article combines the adaptive moving mesh method with a level set structure topology optimization method. The finite element mesh automatically maintains a high nodal density around the structural boundaries of the material domain, whereas the mesh topology remains unchanged. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effect of the combination of a Lagrangian expression for a moving mesh and a Eulerian expression for capturing the moving boundaries.     

Topology optimization of multi-material for the heat conduction problem based on the level set method

This article presents a numerical approach of topology optimization with multiple materials for the heat conduction problem. The multiphase level set model is used to implicitly describe the geometric boundaries of material regions with different conductivities. The model of multi-material representation has no emergence of the intermediate density. The optimization objective is to construct the optimal heat conductive paths which improve the efficiency of heat transfer. The dissipation of thermal transport potential capacity is taken as the objective function. The sensitivity analysis is implemented by the adjoint variable method, which is the foundation of constructing the velocity field of the level set equation. The optimal result is gradually realized by the evolution of multi-material boundaries, and the topological changes are naturally handled during the optimization process. Finally, the numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the proposed method for topology optimization of the heat conduction problem.     

A density field parametrization for topology optimization using Bernstein elements

A new way of describing the density field in density‐based topology optimization is introduced. The new method uses finite elements constructed from Bernstein polynomials rather than the more common Lagrange polynomials. Use of the Bernstein finite elements allows higher‐order elements to be used in the density‐field interpolation without producing unrealistic density values, ie, values lower than zero or higher than one. Results on several test problems indicate that using the higher‐order Bernstein elements produces optimal designs with sharper estimates of the optimal boundary on coarse design meshes. However, higher‐order elements are also required in the structural analysis to prevent the appearance of unrealistic material distributions. The Bernstein element density interpolation can be combined with adaptive mesh refinement to further improve design accuracy even on design domains with complex geometry.     

Topology optimization of thermoelastic structures using level set method

This paper describes the topology optimization of thermoelastic structures, using level set method. The objective is to minimize the mean compliance of a structure with a material volume constraint. In level set method, free boundary of a structure is considered as design variable, and it is implicitly represented via level set model. Objective function of the optimization problem is defined as a function of the shape of a structure. Sensitivity analysis based on continuum model is conducted with respect to the free boundary, which suggests the steepest descent direction. A geometric energy term is introduced to ensure smooth structural boundary. Augmented Lagrangian multiplier method is adopted to enforce volume constraint. Numerical examples are provided for 2D cases, considering design independent temperature distribution.     

基于人工材料的结构拓扑渐进优化设计

首先,提出了一种在结构边界和孔洞周围附加人工材料的思路。在此基础上,结合ESO方法和应力灵敏度,建立了结构有限单元增、删的准则, 给出了一种新的拓扑优化算法。算例表明该方法能采用固定有限元网格中不同的初始优化结构就可获得优化拓扑。由于其概念上的简洁性和应用上的有效性,该方法具有一定的工程应用价值。