Topology optimization of multiphase material structures under design dependent pressure loads

Engineering Simulation and Aerospace Computing (ESAC), Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Corresponding author: zhangwh@nwpu.edu.cn

Received: 26 June 2008
Accepted: 2 November 2008

Abstract

In this paper, design-dependent pressure loads are addressed for topology optimization problems of multiphase material structures. The modeling of unidirectional load distribution with respect to the material density is studied and mathematical formulations of exponential form are established for the first time to model unidirectional pressure loads on the moving surface and contact surface of fixed shape, respectively. In both load cases, sensitivity analysis scheme of the structural compliance is developed to show the effects of the design-dependent loads. By means of 2D and 3D numerical examples, comparative studies are performed in detail to show the effects of different load cases upon the optimal configurations. It is seen that the proposed design procedure is reliable to deal with the design-dependent load cases.