Shu Li¹, S. N. Atluri²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 37-56, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.030.037

Abstract In this paper, a method based on a combination of an optimization of directions of orthotropy, along with topology optimization, is applied to continuum orthotropic solids with the objective of minimizing their compliance. The spatial discretization algorithm is the so called Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) "mixed collocation'' method for the design domain, and the material-orthotropy orientation angles and the nodal volume fractions are used as the design variables in material optimization and topology optimization, respectively. Filtering after each iteration diminishes the checkerboard effect in the topology optimization problem. The example results are provided to illustrate the effects of the orthotropic… More >

Shu Li¹, S. N. Atluri²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 61-74, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.026.061

Abstract The Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) "mixed collocation'' method is applied to the problem of topology-optimization of elastic structures. In this paper, the topic of compliance minimization of elastic structures is pursued, and nodal design variables which represent nodal volume fractions at discretized nodes are adopted. A so-called nodal sensitivity filter is employed, to prevent the phenomenon of checkerboarding in numerical solutions to the topology-optimization problems. The example results presented in the paper demonstrate the suitability and versatility of the MLPG "mixed collocation'' method, in implementing structural topology-optimization. More >