A Review of Topology Optimisation Software for Additive Manufacturing: Capability Comparison

Abstract

The topology optimisation method has gained significant attention in recent decades due to the extensive development and implementation of additive manufacturing, an advanced technology applied to fabricate complex geometries and structures. By following the topology optimisation methodology, the existing geometry can be effectively optimised by minimising or maximising objective functions, such as stiffness, volume, or weight reduction. This paper provides an overview of the topology optimisation algorithm and compares the capabilities of computer-aided software designed to conduct topology optimisation procedures. Four different software are analysed using case studies from various industries. The case study models are categorised based on important parameters for the topology optimisation and evaluated in terms of availability, optimisation method, objective function, and other factors.