• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Using the level set and the meshfree methods, we develop a topological shape optimization method applied to linear elasticity problems. Design gradients are computed using an efficient adjoint design sensitivity analysis(DSA) method. The boundaries are represented by an implicit moving boundary(IMB) embedded in the level set function obtainable from the "Hamilton-Jacobi type" equation with the "Up-wind scheme". Then, using the implicit function, explicit boundaries are generated to obtain the response and sensitivity of the structures. Global nodal shape function derived on a basis of the reproducing kernel(RK) method is employed to discretize the displacement field in the governing continuum equation. Thus, the material points can be located everywhere in the continuum domain, which enables to generate the explicit boundaries and leads to a precise design result. The developed method defines a Lagrangian functional for the constrained optimization. It minimizes the compliance, satisfying the constraint of allowable volume through the variations of boundary. During the optimization, the velocity to integrate the Hamilton-Jacobi equation is obtained from the optimality condition for the Lagrangian functional. Compared with the conventional shape optimization method, the developed one can easily represent the topological shape variations.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.337-343
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• 2014

This paper presents a continuum-based shape design sensitivity analysis(DSA) method for crack propagation problems using a reproducing kernel method(RKM), which facilitates the remeshing problem required for finite element analysis(FEA) and provides the higher order shape functions by increasing the continuity of the kernel functions. A linear elasticity is considered to obtain the required stress field around the crack tip for the evaluation of J-integral. The sensitivity of displacement field and stress intensity factor(SIF) with respect to shape design variables are derived using a material derivative approach. For efficient computation of design sensitivity, an adjoint variable method is employed tather than the direct differentiation method. Through numerical examples, The mesh-free and the DSA methods show excellent agreement with finite difference results. The DSA results are further extended to a shape optimization of crack propagation problems to control the propagation path.