• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2018

In this study, a mixed-interpolated tensorial component 4 nodes method (MITC4) is treated as a numerical analysis model for topology optimization using multiple materials assigned within Reissner-Mindlin plates. Multi-material optimal topology and shape are produced as alternative plate retrofit designs to provide reasonable material assignments based on stress distributions. Element density distribution contours of mixing multiple material densities are linked to Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) as a design model. Mathematical formulation of multi-material topology optimization problem solving minimum compliance is an alternating active-phase algorithm with the Gauss-Seidel version as an optimization model of optimality criteria. Numerical examples illustrate the reliability and accuracy of the present design method for multi-material topology optimization with Reissner-Mindlin plates using MITC4 elements and steel materials.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 2018

This study contributes to evaluate multiphase topology optimization design of plate-like structures on elastic foundations by using classic plate theory. Multi-material optimal topology and shape are produced as an alternative to provide reasonable material assignments based on stress distributions. Multi-material topology optimization problem is solved through an alternative active-phase algorithm with Gauss-Seidel version as an optimization model of optimality criteria. Stiffness and adjoint sensitivity formulations linked to thin plate potential strain energy are derived in terms of multiphase design variables and Winkler-Pasternak parameters considering elastic foundation to apply to the current topology optimization. Numerical examples verify efficiency and diversity of the present topology optimization method of elastic thin plates depending on multiple materials and Winkler-Pasternak parameters with the same amount of volume fraction and total structural volume.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.583-597
• /
• 2023

This paper introduces a novel approach to multi-material topology optimization (MTO) targeting in-plane bi-directional functionally graded (IBFG) non-uniform thickness Reissner-Mindlin plates, employing an alternative active phase approach. The mathematical formulation integrates a first shear deformation theory (FSDT) to address compliance minimization as the objective function. Through an alternating active-phase algorithm in conjunction with the block Gauss-Seidel method, the study transforms a multi-phase topology optimization challenge with multi-volume fraction constraints into multiple binary phase sub-problems, each with a single volume fraction constraint. The investigation focuses on IBFG materials that incorporate adequate local bulk and shear moduli to enhance the precision of material interactions. Furthermore, the well-established mixed interpolation of tensorial components 4-node elements (MITC4) is harnessed to tackle shear-locking issues inherent in thin plate models. The study meticulously presents detailed mathematical formulations for IBFG plates in the MTO framework, underscored by numerous numerical examples demonstrating the method's efficiency and reliability.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.129-145
• /
• 2020

In typical, structural topology optimization plays a significant role to both increase stiffness and save mass of structures in the resulting design. This study contributes to a new numerical approach of topologically optimal design of Mindlin-Reissner plates considering Winkler foundation and mathematical formulations of multi-directional variable thickness of the plate by using multi-materials. While achieving optimal multi-material topologies of the plate with multi-directional variable thickness, the weight information of structures in terms of effective utilization of the material at the appropriate thickness location may be provided for engineers and designers of structures. Besides, numerical techniques of the well-established mixed interpolation of tensorial components 4 element (MITC4) is utilized to overcome a well-known shear locking problem occurring to thin plate models. The well-founded mathematical formulation of topology optimization problem with variable thickness Mindlin-Reissner plate structures by using multiple materials is derived in detail as one of main achievements of this article. Numerical examples verify that variable thickness Mindlin-Reissner plates on Winkler foundation have a significant effect on topologically optimal multi-material design results.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2019

As demand of light weight in the automotive industry has increased, the cowl cross member has been investigated using various methods to change the material. Conventionally, a cowl cross member has been made of steel and aluminum, but recently researchers tested multi-material such as aluminum and plastic. We studied a new model of the cowl cross member made of composite and non ferrous materials. For products with a high degree of freedom in design, generally, the method of topology optimization is advantageous and for the partial bracket part of the cowl cross member had a degree of freedom in the design, a topology optimization is appropriate. Considering the characteristics of the cowl cross members, we need research to minimize the weight while having the performance of noise, vibration and harshness(NVH). Taking the mounting status of the product into consideration, we used an assembly model to optimize the cowl cross member. But this method took too much time so we considered simple cowl cross member assemble conditions using the direct matrix input method(DMI) with the Craig-Bampton Nodal Method. This method is capable of considering the status of the assembly without assembling the model, which reduced the solving time and increased the accuracy comparison with a cowl cross member without DMI.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2022

Recently, multi-material structural topology optimization is more critical because it provides reasonable solution to weight reduction challenges and can as well provide effective conceptual design. For conventional multi-material topology optimization (MMTO), the number of design variable increases when the number of candidate materials increases, and accordingly, a significant increase in computational time occurs. Therefore, MMTO with a single design variable, such as the phase section method (PSM) was proposed. This research is focused on improving the PSM, considering three major limitations: the composition ratio does not represent the area or volume ratio, design variables are not sufficiently concentrated to target values, and certain materials are created less than they are required. To address such limitations, the redefined composition ratio and adjusted parameters for better convergence are proposed. The validation of proposed modifications is verified via two- and three-dimensional numerical examples.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.33-51
• /
• 2023

This research presents a multi-material topology optimization for functionally graded material (FGM) and nonFGM with elastic buckling criteria. The elastic buckling based multi-material topology optimization of functionally graded steels (FGSs) uses a Jacobi scheme and a Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA) as an expansion to revise the design variables shown first. Moreover, mathematical expressions for modified interpolation materials in the buckling framework are also described in detail. A Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) as well as a modified penalizing material model is utilized. Based on this investigation on the buckling constraint with homogenization material properties, this method for determining optimal shape is presented under buckling constraint parameters with non-homogenization material properties. For optimal problems, minimizing structural compliance like as an objective function is related to a given material volume and a buckling load factor. In this study, conflicts between structural stiffness and stability which cause an unfavorable effect on the performance of existing optimization procedures are reduced. A few structural design features illustrate the effectiveness and adjustability of an approach and provide some ideas for further expansions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2024

This paper proposes an effective method for optimizing the structure of functionally graded isotropic and incompressible linear elastic materials. The main emphasis is on utilizing a specialized polytopal composite finite element (PCE) technique capable of handling a broad range of materials, addressing common volumetric locking issues found in nearly incompressible substances. Additionally, it employs a continuum model for bi-directional functionally graded (BFG) material properties, amalgamating these aspects into a unified property function. This study thus provides an innovative approach that tackles diverse material challenges, accommodating various elemental shapes like triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons across compressible and nearly incompressible material properties. The paper thoroughly details the mathematical formulations for optimizing the topology of BFG structures with various materials. Finally, it showcases the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method through numerous numerical examples.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.663-678
• /
• 2020

This paper proposes a novel topology optimization method generating multiple materials for external linear plane crack structures based on the combination of IsoGeometric Analysis (IGA) and eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM). A so-called eXtended IsoGeometric Analysis (X-IGA) is derived for a mechanical description of a strong discontinuity state's continuous boundaries through the inherited special properties of X-FEM. In X-IGA, control points and patches play the same role with nodes and sub-domains in the finite element method. While being similar to X-FEM, enrichment functions are added to finite element approximation without any mesh generation. The geometry of structures based on basic functions of Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) provides accurate and reliable results. Moreover, the basis function to define the geometry becomes a systematic p-refinement to control the field approximation order without altering the geometry or its parameterization. The accuracy of analytical solutions of X-IGA for the crack problem, which is superior to a conventional X-FEM, guarantees the reliability of the optimal multi-material retrofitting against external cracks through using topology optimization. Topology optimization is applied to the minimal compliance design of two-dimensional plane linear cracked structures retrofitted by multiple distinct materials to prevent the propagation of the present crack pattern. The alternating active-phase algorithm with optimality criteria-based algorithms is employed to update design variables of element densities. Numerical results under different lengths, positions, and angles of given cracks verify the proposed method's efficiency and feasibility in using X-IGA compared to a conventional X-FEM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.728-733
• /
• 2008

Though multi-panel structures lined with a poroelastic material have been widely used to reduce sound transmission in various fields, most of the previous works to design them were conducted by repeated analyses or experiments based on initially given configurations or sequences. Therefore, it was difficult to obtain the optimal sequence of multi-panel structures lined with a poroelastic material yielding superior sound isolation capability. In this work, we propose a new design method to sequence a multi-panel structure lined with a poroelastic material having maximized sound transmission loss. Being formulated as a one-dimensional topology optimization problem for a given target frequency, the optimal sequencing of panel-poroelastic layers is systematically carried out in an iterative manner. In this method, a panel layer is expressed as a limiting case of a poroelastic layer to facilitate the optimization process. This means that main material properties of a poroelastic material are treated as Interpolated functions of design variables. The designed sequences of panel-poroelastic layers were shown to be significantly affected by the target frequencies; more panel layers were used at higher target frequencies. The sound transmission loss of the system was calculated by the transfer matrix derived from Biot's theory.