• 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.64 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2017

This paper presents the application of topology optimization as a design tool for a steel railway bridge. The choice of a steel railway bridge is dictated by the particular situation that it is suitable for topology optimization design. On the one hand, the current manufacturing techniques for steel structures (additive manufacturing techniques not included) are highly appropriate for material optimization and weight reduction to improve the overall structural efficiency, improve production efficiency, and reduce costs. On the other hand, the design of a railway bridge, especially at higher speeds, is dominated by minimizing the deformations, this being the basic principle of compliance optimization. However, a classical strategy of topology optimization considers typically only one or a very limited number of load cases, while the design of a steel railway bridge is characterized by relatively concentrated convoy loads, which may be present or absent at any location of the structure. The paper demonstrates the applicability of considering multiple load configurations during topology optimization and proves that a different and better optimal layout is obtained than the one from the classical strategy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.19-33
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• 2014

Structural robustness refers to the ability of a structure to avoid disproportionate consequences to the original cause. Currently attentions focus on the concepts of structural robustness, and discussions on methods of robustness based structural design are rare. Firstly, taking basis in robust $H_{\infty}$ control theory, structural robustness is assessed by $H_{\infty}$ norm of the system transfer function. Then using the SIMP material model, robustness based design of grid structures is formulated as a continuum topology optimization problem, where the relative density of each element and structural robustness are considered as the design variable and the optimization objective respectively. Generalized elitist genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem. As examples, robustness configurations of plane stress model and the rectangular hyperbolic shell model were obtained by robustness based structural design. Finally, two models of single-layer grid structures were designed by conventional and robustness based method respectively. Different interference scenarios were simulated by static and impact experiments, and robustness of the models were analyzed and compared. The results show that the $H_{\infty}$ structural robustness index can indicate whether the structural response is proportional to the original cause. Robustness based structural design improves structural robustness effectively, and it can provide a conceptual design in the initial stage of structural design.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

This paper deals with the topology optimized design of the riser support structures for floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs) under global and local loading conditions. For a preliminary study and validation of the numerical approach, a simplified plate under static loading is first evaluated with the representative topology optimization methods, the Homogenization Design Method (HDM) and Density Method (DM) or Simple Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP). In the context of the corresponding riser support structures, the design problem is formulated such that structure shapes based on design domain variables are determined by minimizing the compliance subject to a mass target, considering the stress criterion. An initial design model is generated based on an actual FPSO riser support configuration. The topology optimization results present improved design performances under various loading conditions, while staying within the allowable limit of the offshore area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2013

Ultrasonic flip-chip bonding needs a precise bonding tool which delivers ultrasonic energy into chip bumps effectively to use the selected resonance mode and frequency of the horn structure. The bonding tool is excited at the resonance frequency and the input and output ports should locate at the anti-nodal points of the resonance mode. In this study, we propose new design method with topology optimization for ultrasonic bonding tools. The SIMP(solid isotropic material with penalization) method is used to formulate topology optimization and OC(optimal criteria) algorithm is adopted for the update scheme. MAC(modal assurance criterion) tracking is used for the target frequency and mode. We fabricate two prototypes of ultrasonic tools which are based on 3D optimization models after reviewing 2D and 3D topology optimization results. The prototypes are satisfied with the ultrasonic frequency and vibration amplitude as the ultrasonic bonding tools.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

This paper presents a topology optimization approach using element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) for the optimal design of compliant mechanisms with geometrically non-linearity. Meshless method has an advantage over the finite element method(FEM) because it is more capable of handling large deformation resulted from geometrical nonlinearity. Therefore, in this paper, EFGM is employed to discretize the governing equations and the bulk density field. The sensitivity analysis of the optimization problem is performed by incorporating the adjoint approach with the meshless method. The Lagrange multipliers method adjusted for imposition of both the concentrated and continuous essential boundary conditions in the EFGM is proposed in details. The optimization mathematical formulation is developed to convert the multi-criteria problem to an equivalent single-objective problem. The popularly applied interpolation scheme, solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP), is used to indicate the dependence of material property upon on pseudo densities discretized to the integration points. A well studied numerical example has been applied to demonstrate the proposed approach works very well and the non-linear EFGM can obtain the better topologies than the linear EFGM to design large-displacement compliant mechanisms.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.759-777
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• 2013

In this paper, a topology optimization method based on the element independent nodal density (EIND) is developed for continuum solids with multiple load cases and multiple constraints. The optimization problem is formulated ad minimizing the volume subject to displacement constraints. Nodal densities of the finite element mesh are used a the design variable. The nodal densities are interpolated into any point in the design domain by the Shepard interpolation scheme and the Heaviside function. Without using additional constraints (such ad the filtering technique), mesh-independent, checkerboard-free, distinct optimal topology can be obtained. Adopting the rational approximation for material properties (RAMP), the topology optimization procedure is implemented using a solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method and a dual programming optimization algorithm. The computational efficiency is greatly improved by multithread parallel computing with OpenMP to run parallel programs for the shared-memory model of parallel computation. Finally, several examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed techniques.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.465-475
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• 2017

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are used in high-rise buildings to convert solar energy to electricity. Due to the considerable energy consumption of high-rise buildings, applying PV technology is of great significance to energy saving. In the application of PV panels, one of the most important construction issues is the connection of the PV panel with the main structures. One major difficulty of the connection design is that the PV panel connection consists of two separate components with coupling and indeterminate dimension. In this paper, the gap element is employed in these two separated but coupled components, i.e., hook and catch. Topology optimization is applied to optimize and design the cross-section of the PV panel connection. Pareto optimization is conducted to operate the optimization subject to multiple load scenarios. The initial design for the topology optimization is determined by the common design specified by the Technical Code for Glass Curtain Wall Engineering (JGJ 102-2003). Gravity and wind load scenarios are considered for the optimization and numerical analysis. Post analysis is conducted for the optimal design obtained by the topology optimization due to the manufactory requirements. Generally, compared with the conventional design, the optimized connector reduces material use with improved structural characteristics.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.93-107
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• 2023

In this paper, a density based topology optimization is proposed for generating of supports required in additive manufacturing to maintain the overhanging regions of main structures during layer by layer fabrication process. For this purpose, isogeometric analysis method is employed to model geometry and structural analysis of main and support structures. In order to model the problem two cases are investigated. In the first case, design domain of supports can easily be separated from the main structure by using distinct isogeometric patches. The second case happens when the main structure itself is optimized by using topology optimization and the supports should be designed in the voids of optimum layout. In this case, in order to avoid boundary identification and re-meshing process for separating design domain of supports from main structure, a parameterization technique is proposed to identify the design domain of supports. To achieve this, two density functions are defined over the entire domain to describe the main structure and supporting areas. On the other hand, since supports are under gravity loads while main structure and its stiffness is not completed during manufacturing process, in the proposed method, stiffness of the main structure is considered to be trivial and the gravity loads are also naturally applied to design support structures. By doing so, the results show reasonable supports are created to protect, continuously, overhanging surfaces of the main structure. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method and compare the results with literature.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2020

In this study, we performed a three-dimensional (3D) topology optimization of a fixed offshore structure to enhance its structural stiffness. The proposed topology optimization is based on the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method, where a volume constraint is applied to utilize an equivalent amount of material as that used for the rule-based scantling design. To investigate the effects of the main legs of the fixed offshore structure on its structural stiffness, the leg region is selectively considered in the design domain of the topology optimization problem. The obtained optimal designs and the rule-based scantling design of the structure are manufactured by 3D metal printing technology to experimentally validate the topology optimization. The behaviors under compressive loading of the obtained optimal designs are compared with those of the rule-based scantling design using a universal testing machine (UTM). Based on the structural experiments, we concluded that by employing the topology optimization method, the structural stiffness of the structure was enhanced compared to that of the rule-based scantling design for an equal amount of the fabrication material. Furthermore, by effectively combining the topology optimization and rule-based scantling methods, we succeeded in enhancing the structural stiffness and improving the breaking load of the fixed offshore structure.