Structural topological optimization applied to multiphysics problems considering porous materials

Abstract

Structural topology optimization method for continuum structures has been applied successfully to solve mechanical engineering problems for more than two decades (Bendsoe and Kikuchi, 1988). The method is associated with the Finite Element (FE) analysis. Since the advent of the advanced computational mechanics, structural topology optimization has gained in popularity and now is used daily as a very important design tool in industry and academy. The applications of topology optimization methods have been extended for many cases, e.g. material design (Xu et al., 2011), microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) design (Jang et al., 2008), synthesis of acoustic absorbers (Silva and Pavanello, 2010) and others. The most common problems solved by commercial codes concern stiffness, stress, and natural frequency maximization, normally with volume fraction constraints (Bendsoe and Sigmund, 2003). Although these optimization procedures have reached a satisfactory level of maturity, there are still many topology optimization problems open to research or lacking of efficient computational methodologies. A major group consists of multiphysics problems. A particular class of multiphysics problems that involves fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and porous materials is the main topic of this work.The general aims of this research project are to combine the evolutionary topology optimization techniques (Xie and Huang, 2010) with multiphysics problems involving fluid-structure interaction (Vicente et al., 2012) and porous materials (Silva and Pavanello, 2010). The topic is challenging, once the proposed multiphysics models present a considerable level of complexity and such FE-models and methodology require intensive computational efforts. Some of the existent commercial FE-packages even do not offer this kind of multiphysics solvers. Hence, the methodology to be developed might reach an innovative and efficient computational sensitivity analysis for the design of vibro-acoustic systems. Based on the experience and the works already done by the Computational Mechanics Department (DMC) at UNICAMP, the main purpose of this research is to create a computational tool that efficiently aids engineers in vibroacoustic systems design based on structural topology optimization. To develop this methodology, a period of 24 months is required in order to carry out a scientific literature review, to build computational codes and to validate the proposed methodology. The final computational tool can be used in many engineering applications, such as in aerospace and automotive industry in order to reduce noises in the interior of aircrafts and vehicles. ReferencesBendsoe, M. P. and Kikuchi, N. (1988). Generating optimal topologies in structural design using a homogenization method. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 71:197-224.Bendsoe, M. P. and Sigmund, O. (2003). Topology Optimization - Theory, Methods and Applications. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.Jang, G. W., Kim, K. J., and Kim, Y. Y. (2008). Integrated topology and shape optimization software for compliant mems mechanism design. Advances in Engineering Software, 39:1-14.Silva, F. I. and Pavanello, R. (2010). Synthesis of porous-acoustic absorbing systems by an evolutionary optimization method. Engineering Optimization, 42 (10):887-905.Vicente, W. M., Picelli, R., Pavanello, R. (2012). An Evolutionary Structural Optimization applied to Fluid-Structure Problems. In: The Eleventh International Conference on Computational Structures Technology, 2012, Dubrovnik, 2012. Xie, Y. and Huang, X. (2010). Evolutionary Topology Optimization of Continuum Structures: Methods and Applications. John Wiley Sons, West Sussex, 1st edition.Xu, Z. S., Huang, Q. B., and Zhao, Z. G. (2011). Topology optimization of composite material plate with respect to sound radiation. Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 35:61-67. (AU)