• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2007

The objective of this work is to integrate reliability analysis into topology optimization problems. We introduce the reliability constraint in the topology optimization formulation, and the new model is called Reliability-Based Topology Optimization (RBTO). The application of the RBTO model gives a different topology relative to the classical topology optimization that should be deterministic. When comparing the structures resulting from the deterministic topology optimization and from the RBTO model, the RBTO model yields structures that are more reliable than the deterministic ones (for the same weight). Several applications show the importance of this integration.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.178-182
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• 2007

Topology optimization methods are classified into two methods such as the density method and the homogenization method. Those methods need to consider relationships between the material property and the density of each element in a design domain, the relaxation of the design space, etc. However, it is hard to apply on some cases due to the complexity to compose the design objective and its sensitivity analysis. In this paper, a modified topology optimization is proposed to assist designers who do not have mathematical or theoretical background of the topology optimization. In this study, optimal topology of structures can be achieved by the sequential design of experiment (DOE) and the sensitivity analysis. We conducted the DOE with an orthogonal array and the sensitivity analysis of design variables to determine sensitive variables used for connectivity between elements. The modified topology optimization method has advantages such as freedom from penalizing intermediate values and easy application with basic DOE concept.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1389-1410
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• 2016

This paper proposes a hybrid of topological derivative-based level set method (LSM) and isogeometric analysis (IGA) for structural topology optimization. In topology optimization a significant drawback of the conventional LSM is that it cannot create new holes in the design domain. In this study, the topological derivative approach is used to create new holes in appropriate places of the design domain, and alleviate the strong dependency of the optimal topology on the initial design. Furthermore, the values of the gradient vector in Hamilton-Jacobi equation in the conventional LSM are replaced with a Delta function. In the topology optimization procedure IGA based on Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) functions is utilized to overcome the drawbacks in the conventional finite element method (FEM) based topology optimization approaches. Several numerical examples are provided to confirm the computational efficiency and robustness of the proposed method in comparison with derivative-based LSM and FEM.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1401-1409
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• 2009

All the forces in the real world act dynamically on structures. Design and analysis should be performed based on the dynamic loads for the safety of structures. Dynamic (transient or vibrational) responses have many peaks in the time domain. Topology optimization, which gives an excellent conceptual design, mainly has been performed with static loads. In topology optimization, the number of design variables is quite large and considering the peaks is fairly costly. Topology optimization in the frequency domain has been performed to consider the dynamic effects; however, it is not sufficient to fully include the dynamic characteristics. In this research, linear dynamic response topology optimization is performed in the time domain. First, the necessity of topology optimization to directly consider the dynamic loads is verified by identifying the relationship between the natural frequency of a structure and the excitation frequency. When the natural frequency of a structure is low, the dynamic characteristics (inertia effect) should be considered. The equivalent static loads (ESLs) method is proposed for linear dynamic response topology optimization. ESLs are made to generate the same response field as that from dynamic loads at each time step of dynamic response analysis. The method was originally developed for size and shape optimizations. The original method is expanded to topology optimization under dynamic loads. At each time step of dynamic analysis, ESLs are calculated and ESLs are used as the external loads in static response topology optimization. The results of topology optimization are used to update the design variables (density of finite elements) and the updated design variables are used in dynamic analysis in a cyclic manner until the convergence criteria are satisfied. The updating rules and convergence criteria in the ESLs method are newly proposed for linear dynamic response topology optimization. The proposed updating rules are the artificial material method and the element elimination method. The artificial material method updates the material property for dynamic analysis at the next cycle using the results of topology optimization. The element elimination method is proposed to remove the element which has low density when static topology optimization is finished. These proposed methods are applied to some examples. The results are discussed in comparison with conventional linear static response topology optimization.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.119-126
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• 2004

A continuum-based design sensitivity analysis and topology optimization methods are developed for power flow analysis. Efficient adjoint sensitivity analysis method is employed and further extended to topology optimization problems. Young's moduli of all the finite elements are selected as design variables and parameterized using a bulk material density function. The objective function and constraint are an energy compliance of the system and an allowable volume fraction, respectively. A gradient-based optimization, the modified method of feasible direction, is used to obtain the optimal material layout. Through several numerical examples, we notice that the developed design sensitivity analysis method is very accurate and efficient compared with the finite difference sensitivity. Also, the topology optimization method provides physically meaningful results. The developed is design sensitivity analysis method is very useful to systematically predict the impact on the design variations. Furthermore, the topology optimization method can be utilized in the layout design of structural systems.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers B
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.163-173
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• 2005

The conventional optimization study for electromagnetic systems has been mostly on the shape or size optimization. The goal for these optimization methods is to improve performance of electromagnetic systems by optimizing the interface shape of two different materials while their given layout or initial topology are held. The feasible topology can be diverse and an appropriate topology will give much better design results. In this paper we propose a theory and an algorithm for topology optimization of electromagnetic systems, which are based on the finite element method. The topology optimization technique employes a direct searching method of sensitivity analysis in which the information of material sensitivity is used. Two numerical examples of a switched reluctance motor and an electrostatic actuator of MEMS are tested and their design results show that the optimization method is valid and useful for the topology and basic layout design of electromagnetic systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.79-94
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• 2010

This study shows how uncertainties of data like material properties quantitatively have an influence on structural topology optimization results for dynamic problems, here such as both optimal topology and shape. In general, the data uncertainties may result in uncertainties of structural behaviors like deflection or stress in structural analyses. Therefore optimization solutions naturally depend on the uncertainties in structural behaviors, since structural behaviors estimated by the structural analysis method like FEM need to execute optimization procedures. In order to quantitatively estimate the effect of data uncertainties on topology optimization solutions of dynamic problems, a so-called interval analysis is utilized in this study, and it is a well-known non-stochastic approach for uncertainty estimate. Topology optimization is realized by using a typical SIMP method, and for dynamic problems the optimization seeks to maximize the first-order eigenfrequency subject to a given material limit like a volume. Numerical applications topologically optimizing dynamic wall structures with varied supports are studied to verify the non-stochastic interval analysis is also suitable to estimate topology optimization results with dynamic problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.417-432
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• 2019

Seismic performance analysis of steel-brace reinforced concrete (RC) frame using topology optimization in highly seismic region was discussed in this research. Topology optimization based on truss-like material model was used, which was to minimum volume in full-stress method. Optimized bracing systems of low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise RC frames were established, and optimized bracing systems of substructure were also gained under different constraint conditions. Thereafter, different structure models based on optimized bracing systems were proposed and applied. Last, structural strength, structural stiffness, structural ductility, collapse resistant capacity, collapse probability and demolition probability were studied. Moreover, the brace buckling was discussed. The results show that bracing system of RC frame could be derived using topology optimization, and bracing system based on truss-like model could help to resolve numerical instabilities. Bracing system of topology optimization was more effective to enhance structural stiffness and strength, especially in mid-rise and high-rise frames. Moreover, bracing system of topology optimization contributes to increase collapse resistant capacity, as well as reduces collapse probability and accumulated demolition probability. However, brace buckling might weaken beneficial effects.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.365-372
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• 2005

Topology optimization method has a great advantage and capability over a conventional shape optimization technique because it optimizes a topology as well as a shape and size of structure. The purpose of the present study, using topology optimization method with an objective function of minimum compliance as a mechanism of bone remodeling, is to examine which shape factors of femur is strongly related with the curvature of femoral shaft. As is expected, the optimized curvature increased definitely with neck angle among the shape factors and showed a similar trend with the measured curvature to neck angle. Therefore, the topology optimization method can be successfully applied in the analysis of bone remodeling phenomenon in the subsequent studies.

• KIEE International Transaction on Electrical Machinery and Energy Conversion Systems
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• v.3B no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2003

The topology optimization for the magnet design is studied. The magnet design in the C-core actuator is investigated by using the derived topology optimization algorithm and finite element method. The design sensitivity equation for the topology optimization is derived using the adjoint variable method and the continuum approach.