A general and flexible method of problem definition in structural optimization systems

Lund, Erik; Rasmussen, John

doi:10.1007/bf01743303

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…A sensitivity averaging scheme is introduced into the method, which is used to effectively overcome the mesh-dependency problem and helps to stabilize the process occasional chaotic behaviours which make the objective function and topology difficult to converge . The proposed procedure, implemented in a general optimization computer program (Lund and Rasmussen, 1994), is illustrated Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms using two examples to validate the approach and the results are compared against the solutions obtained by other authors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms design by an evolutionary topology optimization method

Ansola

Veguería

Canales

et al. 2013

Engineering Computations

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Purpose -This paper aims to show an evolutionary topology optimization procedure for the design of compliant electro-thermal mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach -The adopted methodology is based in the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) method. This approach has been successfully applied by this group for compliant mechanisms optimization under directly applied input loads and simple thermal loads. This work proposes an extension of this procedure, based on an additive version of the method, to solve the more complicated case of electro-thermal actuators optimum design, based on Joule's resistive heating. Findings -Examples solved for the design of plane compliant mechanisms are presented to check the validity of this technique. The designs obtained are compared favorably with results obtained by other authors to illustrate and validate the method, showing the viability of this technique for the optimization of compliant mechanisms under electro-thermal actuation.Research limitations/implications -This investigation is based on and additive version of the evolutionary method. Since this approach does not have the capability to remove material it could be combined with the classic element rejection evolutionary method to overcome these deficiencies, developing an improved bi-directional algorithm, which should be analyzed and applied for these types of designs in future works. Practical implications -Electro-thermal actuators have widespread use in MicroElectroMechanical Systems applications. Since these elements cannot be manufactured using typical assembly processes compliant mechanisms optimization play a crucial role for their successful design. The proposed methodology could help engineers to rapidly conceive complex and efficient actuators. Social implications -The topology optimization procedure developed in this paper enables systematic design of these devices, which can result in a save of manufacturing time and cost. Originality/value -Most applications of the ESO method have considered maximum stiffness structure design, and even if it has been successfully applied to some other optimum material distribution problems, electro-thermal actuators design has not been considered yet. This paper shows that this methodology could be useful also in the design of electro-thermal compliant mechanisms, and provides engineers with a very simple and practical alternative design tool.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms design by an evolutionary topology optimization method

Ansola

Veguería

Canales

et al. 2013

Engineering Computations

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“…The unwanted formation of checkerboard patterns is prevented by the classic smoothing technique frequently adopted when evolutionary topology optimization is applied. The procedure has been implemented as part of a general optimization computer program called Odessy (Lund and Rasmussen, 1994)and tested in several numerical applications and benchmark examples to validate the approach. Further extensions of this method to solve nonuniformly heating problems accomplished by the Joule effect will be considered in future publications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An element addition strategy for thermally actuated compliant mechanism topology optimization

Ansola

Veguería

Canales

2010

Engineering Computations

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Users who downloaded this article also downloaded: (2013),"Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms design by an evolutionary topology optimization method", Engineering Computations, Vol. 30 Iss 7 pp. 961-981 http://dx.If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe an element addition strategy for topology optimization of thermally actuated compliant mechanisms under uniform temperature fields. Design/methodology/approach -The proposed procedure is based on the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) method. In previous works, this group of authors has successfully applied the ESO method for compliant mechanism optimization under directly applied input loads. The present paper progresses on this work line developing an extension of this procedure, based on an additive version of the method, to approach the more complicated case of thermal actuators. Findings -The adopted method has been tested in several numerical applications and benchmark examples to illustrate and validate the approach, and designs obtained with this method are compared favorably with the analytical solutions and results derived by other authors using different optimization methods, showing the viability of this technique for uniformly heated actuators optimization. Research limitations/implications -As a simple initial approach, this research considers only uniform heating of the system, while many thermal actuators are heated nonuniformly. Future works will be based on electrothermal actuation, and nonuniform Joule heating will be considered as well, which might lead to more elegant and efficient solutions. Practical implications -Compliant micromechanisms that are responsible for movement play a crucial role in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) design, which cannot be manufactured using typical assembly processes and may not make use of traditional hinges or bearings. The topology optimization method described in this paper enables the systematic design of these devices, which can result in reduced conception time and manufacturing cost. Originality/value -The ESO method has been successfully applied to several optimum material distribution problems, but not for thermal compliant mechanisms. Even if...

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Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Finite Element Discretized Structures

Lund

1996

IUTAM Symposium on Optimization of Mechanical Systems

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A general and flexible method of problem definition in structural optimization systems

Cited by 8 publications

References 11 publications

Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms design by an evolutionary topology optimization method

Electro-thermal compliant mechanisms design by an evolutionary topology optimization method

An element addition strategy for thermally actuated compliant mechanism topology optimization

Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Finite Element Discretized Structures

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