• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.745-750
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• 2012

This study extends the constraint force design method allowing topology optimization for planar rigid-link and string mechanisms. To our best knowledge, by applying conventional machine and mechanism design theories, it is likely that it is possible to find out optimal locations of joints and lengths of rigid-links but somewhat difficult to find out optimal topology of rigid-links. To achieve optimal topology of rigid links, there is our previous contribution so called the new constraint force design method with the binary design variables determining the existence of the auxiliary forces imposing apparent lengths among unit masses. By adding new binary design variables, this research extends the constraint force design method to find out optimal mechanism consisting of stringy links as well as rigid links that seems impossible in the conventional machine and mechanism design theories.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1811-1820
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• 2010

Most components in the real world show nonlinear response. The nonlinearity may arise because of contact between the parts, nonlinear material, or large deformation of the components. Structural optimization considering nonlinearities is fairly expensive because sensitivity information is difficult to calculate. To overcome this difficulty, the equivalent load method was proposed for nonlinear response optimization. This method was originally developed for size and shape optimization. In this study, the equivalent load method is modified to perform topology optimization considering all kinds of nonlinearities. Equivalent load is defined as the load for linear analysis that generates the same response field as that for nonlinear analysis. A simple example demonstrates that results of the topology optimization using equivalent load are very similar to the numerical results. Nonlinear response topology optimization is performed with a practical example and the results are compared with those of conventional linear response topology optimization.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2007

Discrete topology optimization processes of structures start from an initial design domain which is described by the topology of constant material densities. During optimization procedures, the structural topology changes in order to satisfy optimization problems in the fixed design domain, and finally, the optimization produces material density distributions with optimal topology. An introduction of initial holes in a design domain presented by Eschenauer et at. has been utilized in order to improve the optimization convergence of boundary-based shape optimization methods by generating finite changes of design variables. This means that an optimal topology depends on an initial topology with respect to topology optimization problems. In this study, it is investigated that various optimal topologies can be yielded under constraints of usable material, when partial solid phases are deposited in an initial design domain and thus initial topology is finitely changed. As a numerical application, structural topology optimization of a simple MBB-Beam is carried out, applying partial circular solid phases with varying sizes to an initial design domain.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.365-370
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• 2023

This paper presents a particle-structure collision model for topology optimization, which requires sensitivity analysis. Therefore, a new model that incorporates sensitivity analysis is needed. The proposed particle-structure collision model conducts sensitivity analysis for topology optimization. To evaluate the accuracy of the proposed model, it was applied to a simplified one-dimensional collision problem. Optimization of the final positions of particles using topology optimization through this model confirmed the suitability of the proposed approach. These results demonstrate that it is possible to consider particle-structure collision in topology optimization.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2016

In this paper, a projection method is introduced which is used in topology design optimization. In the projection method, each active design variable is projected onto the design domain depending on the shape and size of the projection functions, and the finite element under this projection receives a solid material. Furthermore, the size of the projection function defines the minimum length scale of the structural members. Therefore, a designer can easily apply design constraints without complicated post-processing procedure. In addition, the projection method can be combined with the homogenization theory, and applied to material design problem for composite materials. Topology design optimization for the unit-cell of the periodic structures can maximize the effective material properties, which yields the optimal material distribution with maximum bulk or shear moduli under a given volume fraction.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.535-541
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• 2010

In this paper, we have derived a continuum-based adjoint design sensitivity of general performance functionals with respect to Young' modulus and heat conduction coefficient for steady-state nonlinear thermoelastic problems. An adjoint equation for temperature and displacement fields is defined for the efficient computation of the coupled field design sensitivity. Through numerical examples, we investigated the mesh dependency of the topology optimization method in the thermoelastic problems. Also, comparing the dominant loading cases of thermal and mechanical ones, the loading dependency of topology design optimization in coupled multi-physics problems is investigated.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2013

From the numerical results of density-based topology design optimization, a CAD geometric model is constructed and fabricated using 3D printer to experimentally validate the optimal design. In the process of topology design optimization, we often experience checkerboard phenomenon and complicated branches, which could result in the manufacturing difficulty of the obtained optimal design. Sensitivity filtering and morphology methods are used to resolve the aforementioned issues. Identical volume fraction is used in both numerical and experimental models for precise validation. Through the experimental comparison of stiffness in various designs including the optimal design, it turns out that the optimal design has the highest stiffness and the experimental result of compliance matches very well with the numerical one.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2007

This study shows an implementation of partial holes in an initial design domain in order to improve convergences of topology optimization algorithms. The method is associated with a bubble method as introduced by Eschenauer et al. to overcome slow convergence of boundary-based shape optimization methods. However, contrary to the bubble method, initial holes are only implemented for initializations of optimization algorithm in this approach, and there is no need to consider a characteristic function which defines hole's deposition during every optimization procedure. In addition, solid and void regions within the initial design domain are not fixed but merged or split during optimization Procedures. Since this phenomenon activates finite changes of design parameters without numerically calculating movements and positions of holes, convergences of topology optimization algorithm can be improved. In the present study, material topology optimization designs of Michell-type beam utilizing the initial design domain with initial holes of varied sizes and shapes is carried out by using SIMP like a density distribution method. Numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of the present method.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2015

In this paper, we verify the optimal topology design for heat conduction problems in steady stated which is obtained numerically using the adjoint design sensitivity analysis(DSA) method. In adjoint variable method(AVM), the already factorized system matrix is utilized to obtain the adjoint solution so that its computation cost is trivial for the sensitivity. For the topology optimization, the design variables are parameterized into normalized bulk material densities. The objective function and constraint are the thermal compliance of the structure and the allowable volume, respectively. For the experimental validation of the optimal topology design, we compare the results with those that have identical volume but designed intuitively using a thermal imaging camera. To manufacture the optimal design, we apply a simple numerical method to convert it into point cloud data and perform CAD modeling using commercial reverse engineering software. Based on the CAD model, we manufacture the optimal topology design by CNC.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Topology optimization has been evolved into a very efficient conceptual design tool and has been utilized into design engineering processes. Traditional topology optimization has been using homogenization method and optimality criteria method. homogenization method provides relationship equation between structure which includes many holes and stiffness matrix in FEM. Optimality criteria method is used to update design variables while maintaining that volume fraction is uniform. Traditional topology optimization has advantage of good convergence but has disadvantage of too much convergency time. In one way to solve this problem, element removal method using the criterion of an average stress is presented. As the result of examples, it is certified that convergency time is very reduced.