Eventos Anais de eventos
MECSOL 2022
8th International Symposium on Solid Mechanics
Topology optimization with connectivity constraint to separate natural frequencies of a ring structure
Submission Author:
Heitor Nigro Lopes , SP , Brazil
Co-Authors:
Heitor Nigro Lopes, Daniel Candeloro Cunha, Renato Pavanello
Presenter: Daniel Candeloro Cunha
doi://10.26678/ABCM.MECSOL2022.MSL22-0178
Abstract
In this work, the Virtual Flux Method (VFM) is used to ensure structural connectivity throughout the topology optimization of a ring structure. For a given operating frequency, in the high frequency domain, the objective is to obtain a structure whose natural frequencies are as far as possible from it. Without a connectivity constraint in the optimization, the structure usually degenerates, since structures with infinitesimally thin connections can potentially produce very large gaps between natural frequencies. The VFM is used to constrain the optimization problem, so that a minimal connection thickness is imposed between specified regions of the design domain. It consists in solving an auxiliary heat conduction problem, properly defined so that the flux absolute value represents a point-wise inverse measure of connectivity. This measure is used to inhibit the removal of material from regions that are essential for keeping the minimal connection thickness. Firstly, the method is illustrated for an elongated clamped-clamped beam. Then, it is applied in the optimization of a ring structure, free of mechanical restrictions. When considering the ring structure, the two regions to be kept connected overlap. This work presents how to deal with this specific issue. Results for a range of operating frequencies are presented and discussed. They show that the inclusion of the connectivity constraint through VFM successfully ensures the specified minimal connection thickness.
Keywords
Topology optimization, Connectivity constraint, Virtual flux method, Ring structure, Natural frequency separation
