TY - JOUR
T1 - Overhang control in topology optimization
T2 - a comparison of continuous front propagation-based and discrete layer-by-layer overhang control
AU - van de Ven, Emiel
AU - Maas, Robert
AU - Ayas, Can
AU - Langelaar, Matthijs
AU - van Keulen, Fred
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Although additive manufacturing (AM) allows for a large design freedom, there are some manufacturing limitations that have to be taken into consideration. One of the most restricting design rules is the minimum allowable overhang angle. To make topology optimization suitable for AM, several algorithms have been published to enforce a minimum overhang angle. In this work, the layer-by-layer overhang filter proposed by Langelaar (Struct Multidiscip Optim 55(3):871–883, 2017), and the continuous, front propagation-based, overhang filter proposed by van de Ven et al. (Struct Multidiscipl Optim 57(5):2075–2091, 2018) are compared in detail. First, it is shown that the discrete layer-by-layer filter can be formulated in a continuous setting using front propagation. Then, a comparison is made in which the advantages and disadvantages of both methods are highlighted. Finally, the continuous overhang filter is improved by incorporating complementary aspects of the layer-by-layer filter: continuation of the overhang filter and a parameter that had to be user-defined are no longer required. An implementation of the improved continuous overhang filter is provided.
AB - Although additive manufacturing (AM) allows for a large design freedom, there are some manufacturing limitations that have to be taken into consideration. One of the most restricting design rules is the minimum allowable overhang angle. To make topology optimization suitable for AM, several algorithms have been published to enforce a minimum overhang angle. In this work, the layer-by-layer overhang filter proposed by Langelaar (Struct Multidiscip Optim 55(3):871–883, 2017), and the continuous, front propagation-based, overhang filter proposed by van de Ven et al. (Struct Multidiscipl Optim 57(5):2075–2091, 2018) are compared in detail. First, it is shown that the discrete layer-by-layer filter can be formulated in a continuous setting using front propagation. Then, a comparison is made in which the advantages and disadvantages of both methods are highlighted. Finally, the continuous overhang filter is improved by incorporating complementary aspects of the layer-by-layer filter: continuation of the overhang filter and a parameter that had to be user-defined are no longer required. An implementation of the improved continuous overhang filter is provided.
KW - Additive manufacturing
KW - Front propagation
KW - Overhang angle
KW - Topology optimization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107300347&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00158-021-02887-2
DO - 10.1007/s00158-021-02887-2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107300347
SN - 1615-147X
VL - 64
SP - 761
EP - 778
JO - Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
JF - Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
IS - 2
ER -