Abstract
This article presents a density-based topology optimization method for designing three-dimensional (3D) compliant mechanisms (CMs) and loadbearing structures with design-dependent pressure loading. Instead of interface-tracking techniques, the Darcy law in conjunction with a drainage term is employed to obtain pressure field as a function of the design vector. To ensure continuous transition of pressure loads as the design evolves, the flow coefficient of a finite element (FE) is defined using a smooth Heaviside function. The obtained pressure field is converted into consistent nodal loads using a transformation matrix. The presented approach employs the standard FE formulation and also, allows consistent and computationally inexpensive calculation of load sensitivities using the adjoint-variable method. For CM designs, a multicriteria objective is minimized, whereas minimization of compliance is performed for designing loadbearing structures. Efficacy and robustness of the presented approach is demonstrated by designing various pressure-actuated 3D CMs and structures.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2205-2220 |
Journal | International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering |
Volume | 122 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-careOtherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Keywords
- Darcy law
- design-dependent pressure loading
- three-dimensional compliant mechanisms
- three-dimensional structures
- topology optimization