• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2009

This paper studies the Element Connectivity Parameterization Method(ECP method) for topology optimization considering dynamic compliance. The previous element density based topology optimization method interpolates Young's modulus with respect to design variables defined in each element for topology optimization. Despite its various applications, these element density based methods suffer from numerical instabilities for nonlinear structure and multiphysics systems. To resolve these instabilities, recently a new numerical method called the Element Connectivity Parameterization(ECP) Method was proposed. Unlike the existing design methods, the ECP method optimizes the connectivities among plane or solid elements and it shows some advantages in topology optimization for both nonlinear structure and multiphysics systems. In this study, the method was expanded for topology optimization for the dynamic compliance by developing a way to model the mass matrix in the framework of the ECP method.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.779-785
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• 2009

This paper is concerned with a computational approach for topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures following specific load-displacement trajectories. In our previous works, attention was paid to stabilize topology optimization involving large displacement and a method called the element connectivity parameterization was developed. Here, we aimed to extend the element connectivity parameterization method to find an optimal geometrically nonlinear structure yielding a specific load-displacement trajectory. In contrast to designing a stiffest structure, the trajectory design problem requires special consideration in topology optimization formulation and solution procedure. Some numerical problems were considered to test the developed element connectivity parameterization based formulation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.7 s.238
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• pp.990-997
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• 2005

The objective of this paper is to present the element connectivity parameterization (ECP) fur three dimensional problems. In the ECP method, a continuum structure is viewed as discretized finite elements connected by zero-length elastic links whose stiffness values control the degree of inter-element connectivity. The ECP method can effectively avoid the formation of the low-density unstable elements. These elements appear when the standard element density method is used for geometrical nonlinear problems. In this paper, this ECP method developed fur two-dimensional problems is expanded to the design of three-dimensional geometrical nonlinear structures. Among others, the automatic procedure converting standard finite element models to the models suitable for the ECP approach is developed and applied for optimization problems defined on general three-dimensional design domains.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.360-365
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• 2007

This work is concerned with the topology optimization of three-dimensional cooling fins or heat sinks. Motivated by earlier success of the Internal Element Connectivity Method (I-ECP) method in two-dimensional problems, the extension of I-ECP to three-dimensional problems is carried out. The main efforts were made to maintain the numerical trouble-free characteristics of I-ECP for full three-dimensional problems; a serious numerical problem appearing in thermal topology optimization is erroneous temperature undershooting. The effectiveness of the present implementation was checked through the design optimization of three-dimensional fins.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1017-1022
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• 2004

Though the standard element density-based topology optimization method has been applied for the optimal design of multiphysics systems, some theoretical problems, such as material interpolation, undershoot temperature prediction, and unstable elements, still remain to be overcome. The objective of this investigation is to present a new topology optimization formulation based on the element connectivity parameterization (ECP) in order to avoid the numerical problems in multiphysics system design and improve optimization results. To show the validity of the proposed approach, the designs of an optimal thermal dissipation and an electro-thermal-compliant actuator were considered.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.34.1-34.1
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2009

본 논문에서는 비선형구조물의 위상최적화를 위하여 개발된 요소 연결 매개법 (Element Connectivity Parameterization Method)을 이용하여 기하비선형 구조물의 고유진동수(Eigenfrequency)를 최적화하는 연구를 소개한다. 기존의 밀도를 기반으로 한 위상최적화기법은 비선형 구조물의 위상최적화를 수행할 때 약한 탄성계수를 가지는 요소가 대변형을 일으켜 전체 강성행렬(Tangent Stiffness Matrix)이 양정정성(Positive definiteness)를 잃어버리는 문제점이 있어서 위상최적화를 수행하기 어렵다. 이 문제점을 해결하기 위하여 최근에 요소 연결 매개법(Element Connectivity Parameterization Method)이 개발되었다. 이 요소 연결 매개법은 요소의 강성을 설계하는 것이 아니라 요소의 연결성을 설계하는 기법으로 이를 이용하여 비선형 구조물의 위상최적화를 효과적으로 수행할 수 있다. 이 연구에서는 요소 연결 매개법을 동적인 문제에 적용하기 위한 연구를 수행하며 이를 이용하여 비선형 구조물의 고유진동수를 최적화 하는 위상최적화 문제에 적용하였다. 비선형 수치 예제를 통하여 기하 비선형 구조물의 고유진동수를 최대화를 통하여 기하 비선형 구조물의 강성최대화 문제와 같은 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.