Skip to main content
Log in

A hierarchical model for concurrent material and topology optimisation of three-dimensional structures

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an extension of the hierarchical model for topology optimisation to three-dimensional structures. The problem addressed covers the simultaneous characterisation of the optimal topology of the structure and the optimal design of the cellular material used in its construction. In this study, hierarchical suggests that the optimisation model works at two interconnected levels, the global and local levels identified, respectively, with the structure and its material. The class of cellular materials, defining the material microstructure, is restricted to single scale cellular materials, with the cell geometry locally optimised for the given objective function and constraints. The model uses the asymptotic homogenisation model to obtain the equivalent material properties for the specific local microstructures designed using a SIMP based approach. The necessary optimality conditions for the hierarchical optimal design problem are discussed and approximated numerically by a proper finite element discretisation of the global and local analysis and design problems. Examples to explore and demonstrate the model developed are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bendsøe MP, Kikuchi N (1988) Generating optimal topologies in structural design using a homogenization method. Comput Meth Appl Mech Eng 71:197–224

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Bendsøe MP, Sigmund O (2003) Topology optimization theory, methods and applications. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RE (2004) Engineering a Beowulf-style computer cluster. Duke University

  • Díaz AR, Bendsøe MP (1992) Shape optimization of structures for multiple loading conditions using a homogenization method. Struct Multidisc Optim 4:17–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher R (1987) Practical methods for optimization. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Grama A, Karypis G, Kumar V, Gupta A (2003) An introduction to parallel computing: design and analysis of algorithms. Addison-Wesley, Reading

    Google Scholar 

  • Guedes JM, Kikuchi N (1990) Preprocessing and postprocessing for materials based on the homogenization method with adaptive finite element method. Comput Meth Appl Mech Eng 83:143–198

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Malard J (1996) MPI: a message-passing interface standard. History, overview and current status. Technology Watch Report, Edinburgh Parallel Computing Center

  • Rodrigues H, Jacobs C, Guedes JM, Bendsøe MP (1999) Global and local material optimization models applied to anisotropic bone adaptation. In: Pedersen P, Bendsøe MP (eds) Synthesis in biosolid mechanics. Kluwer, pp 209–220

  • Rodrigues H, Guedes JM, Bendsøe MP (2002) Hierarchical optimization of material and structure. Struct Multidisc Optim 24:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigmund O, Petersson J (1998) Numerical instabilities in topology optimization: a survey on procedures dealing with checkerboards, mesh-dependencies and local minima. Struct Multidisc Optim 16:68–75

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. C. Rodrigues.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coelho, P.G., Fernandes, P.R., Guedes, J.M. et al. A hierarchical model for concurrent material and topology optimisation of three-dimensional structures. Struct Multidisc Optim 35, 107–115 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-007-0141-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-007-0141-3

Keywords

Navigation