Minimum width control in topology optimization of lattice structure through a M-VCUT level set based substructure

Abstract

A method is proposed to control the minimum width of lattice structure in the topology optimization by using a Multiple Variable Cutting (M-VCUT) based substructure. The geometry of substructure is described by using the M-VCUT level set approach, and the substructures are condensed to superelements. A data-driven model of substructure is constructed, and it is used for the finite element analysis and sensitivity analysis during the optimization, so that computational costs are reduced. More importantly, only the substructures whose minimum width are larger than an admissible value are considered in the data-driven model, thus inherently enforcing the constraint of minimum width and making the optimization much easier. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through several numerical examples.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

topology optimization / lattice structure / minimum width / M-VCUT level set / substructure / data-driven

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Higher Education Press