Abstract
This paper deals with joint penalization and material selection in frame topology optimization. The models used in this study are frame structures with flexible joints. The problem considered is to find the frame design which fulfills a stiffness requirement at the lowest structural weight. To support topological change of joints, each joint is modelled as a set of subelements. A set of design variables are applied to each beam and joint subelement. Two kinds of design variables are used. One of these variables is an area-type design variable used to control the global element size and support a topology change. The other variables are length ratio variables controlling the cross section of beams and internal stiffness properties of the joints. This paper presents two extensions to classical frame topology optimization. Firstly, penalization of structural joints is presented. This introduces the possibility of finding a topology with less complexity in terms of the number of beam connections. Secondly, a material interpolation scheme is introduced to support mixed material design.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bendsoe Bendsøe MP (1989) Optimal Shape design as a material distribution problem. Struct Optim 1:193–202
Fenyes Fenyes PA (1981) Structural optimization with alternative materials—minimum mass design of the primary structure. SAE paper, 810228
Fredricson Fredricson H (2005) Structural topology optimization—an application review. To appear in Int J Vehicle Des, Special issue, 35
Fredricson2 Fredricson H, Johansen T, Klarbring A, Petersson J (2003) Frame topology optimization with flexible joints. Struct Multidisc Optim 25(3):199–214
Fredricson3 Fredricson H (2004) Frame topology optimization—a vehicle body application. submitted for publication
Johansen Johansen T (2004) Topology optimization of vehicle structures. Licentiate thesis, LIU-TEK-LIC-2004:17, ISBN 91-7373-942-1
Sigmund Sigmund O (2001) A 99-line topology optimization code written in Matlab. Struct Multidisc Optim 21:120–127
Sigmund2 Sigmund O (2001) Design of multiphysics actuators using topology optimization—Part II: two-material structures. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 190:6605–6627
Svanberg Svanberg K (1987) The method of moving asymptotes—A new method for structural optimization. Int J Numer Methods Eng 24:359–373
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fredricson, H. Topology optimization of frame structures—joint penalty and material selection. Struct Multidisc Optim 30, 193–200 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-005-0515-3
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-005-0515-3