On the multi-component layout design with inertial force

The purpose of this paper is to introduce inertial forces into the proposed integrated layout optimization method designing the multi-component systems. Considering a complex packing system for which several components will be placed in a container of specific shape, the aim of the design procedure is to find the optimal location and orientation of each component, as well as the configuration of the structure that supports and interconnects the components. On the one hand, the Finite-circle Method (FCM) is used to avoid the components overlaps, and also overlaps between components and the design domain boundaries. One the other hand, the optimal material layout of the supporting structure in the design domain is designed by topology optimization. A consistent material interpolation scheme between element stiffness and inertial load is presented to avoid the singularity of localized deformation due to the presence of design dependent inertial loading when the element stiffness and the involved inertial load are weakened with the element material removal. The tested numerical example shows the proposed methods extend the actual concept of topology optimization and are efficient to generate reasonable design patterns.     

基于参数化水平集法的材料非线性子结构拓扑优化

针对利用传统水平集法进行非线性结构拓扑优化计算过程复杂及计算效率低等问题,将参数化水平集方法引入材料非线性结构拓扑优化中。通过全局径向基函数插值初始水平集函数,建立了以插值系数为设计变量、结构的应变能最小为目标函数、材料用量为约束条件的材料非线性结构拓扑优化模型,利用有限元分析对材料非线性结构建立平衡方程,并用迭代法求解。同时,采用子结构法划分设计区域为若干个子区域,将全自由度平衡方程的求解分解为缩减的平衡方程和多个子结构内部位移的求解,减小了计算成本。算例表明,这种处理非线性关系的方法可以在保证数值稳定的同时提高计算效率,得到边界清晰、结构合理的拓扑优化构形。     

Dual-mixed finite element analysis of crystalline sub-micron gold

An extended crystal plasticity model is applied to crystalline sub-micron gold in order to study the mechanical response. Numerical results for different crystal sizes are presented and discussed. The governing equations are discretized and, subsequently, solved via a dual-mixed finite element formulation [1, 2]. The evolution equation of the dislocation density is taken as a global field relation additionally to the balance of linear momentum, whereas the flow rule is solved locally at the Gauß point level [3,4]. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical instabilities in structural optimization – analogy between topology & shape design problems

The formulation of structural optimization problems on the basis of the finite–element–method often leads to numerical instabilities resulting in non–optimal designs, which turn out to be difficult to realize from the engineering point of view. In the case of topology optimization problems the formation of designs characterized by oscillating density distributions such as the well–known “checkerboard–patterns” can be observed, whereas the solution of shape optimization problems often results in unfavourable designs with non–smooth boundary shapes caused by high–frequency oscillations of the boundary shape functions. Furthermore a strong dependence of the obtained designs on the finite–element–mesh can be observed in both cases. In this context we have already shown, that the topology design problem can be regularized by penalizing spatial oscillations of the density function by means of a penalty–approach based on the density gradient. In the present paper we apply the idea of problem regularization by penalizing oscillations of the design variable to overcome the numerical difficulties related to the shape design problem, where an analogous approach restricting the boundary surface can be introduced. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Topology and material orientation optimization based on evolution equations

Many modern high-performance materials have inherent anisotropic elastic properties and its local material orientation can be considered to be an additional design variable for the topology optimization [1–3]. We extend our previous model for topology optimization with variational controlled growth [4–6] for linear elastic anisotropic materials, for which the material orientation is introduced as an additional design variable. We solve the optimization problem purely with the principles of thermodynamics by minimizing the Gibbs energy. (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

基于离散变量的拓扑优化方法

单元敏度的不准确估计是离散拓扑优化算法数值不稳定的原因之一,特别是添加材料时,传统的敏度计算公式给出的估计误差较大,甚至有时估计符号都是错误的．为了克服这一问题,通过对弹性平衡增量方程的摄动分析构造了新的增量敏度估计公式．这一新的公式无论是添加材料还是删除材料都能较准确地估计出目标函数增量,它可以看作是通过非局部单元刚度阵对传统敏度分析公式的修正．以此为基础构建了一种基于离散变量的拓扑优化算法,它可以从任意单元上添加或删除材料以使目标函数减小,同时为避免优化过程中重新划分网格,采用了单元软杀策略以小刚度材料模拟空单元．这一方法的主要优点是简单,不需要太多的数学计算,特别有利于工程实际的应用．     

Shape and topology optimization of contact problems by level set methods

This paper deals with the numerical solution of a topology and shape optimization problems of an elastic body in unilateral contact with a rigid foundation. The contact problem with the prescribed friction is considered. The structural optimization problem consists in finding such shape of the boundary of the domain occupied by the body that the normal contact stress along the contact boundary of the body is minimized. In the paper shape as well as topological derivatives formulae of the cost functional are provided using material derivative and asymptotic expansion methods, respectively. These derivatives are employed to formulate necessary optimality condition for simultaneous shape and topology optimization. Level set based numerical algorithm for the solution of the shape optimization problem is proposed. Level set method is used to describe the position of the boundary of the body and its evolution on a fixed mesh. This evolution is governed by Hamilton – Jacobi equation. The speed vector field driving the propagation of the boundary of the body is given by the shape derivative of a cost functional with respect to the free boundary. Numerical examples are provided. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Hybrid boundary element formulation for acoustic wave propagation

The so‐called hybrid stress boundary element method (HSBEM) is introduced in a frequency domain formulation for the computation of acoustic radiation and scattering in closed and in finite domains. Different from other boundary element formulations, the HSBEM is based on an extended Hellinger‐Reissner variational principle and leads to a Hermitian, frequency‐dependent stiffness equation. Due to this, the method is very well suited for treating fluid structure interaction problems since the effort for the coupling the structure, discretized by a finite elements, and the fluid, discretized by the HSBEM is strongly reduced. To arrive at a boundary integral formulation, the field variables are separated into boundary variables, which are approximated by piecewise polynomial functions, and domain variables, which are approximated by a superposition of singular fundamental solutions weighed by source strength. This approximation cancels the domain integral over the equation of motion in the hybrid principle and leads to a boundary integral formulation, incorporating singular integrals. Comparing to previous results published by the authors, new considerations concerning the interpretation of singular contributions in the stiffness matrix for exterior domain problems are communicated here.     

Numerical aspects of X‐SIMP‐based topology optimization

The discretization of topology design problems on the basis of the finite‐element‐method results in general in large‐scale combinatorial optimization problems, which are usually relaxed by the introduction of a continuous material density function as design variable. To avoid optimal designs containing unfavourable microstructures such as the well‐known “checkerboard” patterns, the relaxed problem can be regularized by the X‐SIMP‐approach, which penalizes intermediate density values as well as high density gradients within the design domain. In this context we discuss numerical aspects of the X‐SIMP‐based regularization such as the discretization of the regularized problem, the formulation of the corresponding stiffness matrix and the numerical solution of the discretized problem. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evolutionary structural optimization for problems with stiffness constraints

This paper presents a simple evolutionary procedure based on finite element analysis to minimize the weight of structures while satisfying stiffness requirements. At the end of each finite element analysis, a sensitivity number, indicating the change in the stiffness due to removal of each element, is calculated and elements which make the least change in the stiffness; of a structure are subsequently removed from the structure. The final design of a structure may have its weight significantly reduced while the displacements at prescribed locations are kept within the given limits. The proposed method is capable of performing simultaneous shape and topology optimization. A wide range of problems including those with multiple displacement constraints, multiple load cases and moving loads are considered. It is shown that existing solutions of structural optimization with stiffness constraints can easily be reproduced by this proposed simple method. In addition some original shape and layout optimization results are presented.     

Finite Element Analysis of Free Material Optimization Problem

Free material optimization solves an important problem of structural engineering, i.e. to find the stiffest structure for given loads and boundary conditions. Its mathematical formulation leads to a saddle-point problem. It can be solved numerically by the finite element method. The convergence of the finite element method can be proved if the spaces involved satisfy suitable approximation assumptions. An example of a finite-element discretization is included.     

n-sided polygonal hybrid finite elements with unified fundamental solution kernels for topology optimization

In topology optimization, the optimized design can be obtained based on spatial discretization of design domain using natural polygonal finite elements to reduce the influence of mesh geometry on topology optimization solutions. However, the natural polygonal finite elements require separate interpolants for each type of elements and involve troublesome domain integrals. In this study, an alternative n-sided polygonal hybrid finite element possessing multiple-node connection is formulated in a unified form to compress the checkerboard patterns caused by numerical instability in topology optimization. Different from the natural polygonal finite elements, the present polygonal hybrid finite elements involve two sets of independent displacement fields. The intra-element displacement field defined inside the element is approximated by the linear combination of the fundamental solution of the problem to achieve the purpose of the local satisfaction of the governing equations of the problem, but not the specific boundary conditions and the inter-element continuity conditions. To overcome such drawback, the inter-element displacement field defined over the entire element boundary is independently approximated by means of the conventional shape function interpolation. As a result, only line integrals along the element boundary are involved in the computation, whose dimension is reduced by one compared to the domain integrals in the natural polygonal finite elements, and more importantly, allowing us to flexibly construct any polygons from Voronoi tessellations in discretizing complex design domains using same fundamental solution kernels. Numerical results obtained indicate that the present n-sided polygonal hybrid finite elements can produce more accurate displacement solutions and smaller mean compliance, compared to the standard finite elements and the natural polygonal finite elements.     

A phase field model for fracture

The variational formulation of brittle fracture as formulated for example by Francfort and Marigo in [1], where the total energy is minimized with respect to any admissible crack set and displacement field, allows the identification of crack paths, branching of preexisting cracks and even crack initiation without additional criteria. For its numerical treatment a continuous approximation of the model in the sense of Γ-convergence has been presented by Bourdin in [2]. In the regularized Francfort–Marigo model cracks are represented by an additional field variable (secondary variable) s∈[0,1] which is 0 if the material is cracked and 1 if it is undamaged. In this work, we reinterpret the crack variable as a phase field order parameter and address cracking as a phase transition problem. The crack growth is governed by the evolution equation of the order parameter which resembles the Ginzburg–Landau equation. The numerical treatment is done by finite elements combined with an implicit Euler scheme for the time integration. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A Posteriori Estimators for the FEM: Analysis of the Robustness of the Estimators for the Poisson Equation

This paper is a summary of our study on estimators for the error in the finite element solution given in [4,5,7,9,10]. We will persent the analysis of estimators for finite element solutions of the Poisson equation in the interior of meshes of triangles with straight edges, as well as the analysis at the boundary.     

基于变体积约束的阻尼材料微结构拓扑优化研究北大核心CSCD

阻尼复合结构的抑振性能取决于材料布局和阻尼材料特性.该文提出了一种变体积约束的阻尼材料微结构拓扑优化方法,旨在以最小的材料用量获得具有期望性能的阻尼材料微结构.基于均匀化方法,建立阻尼材料三维微结构有限元模型,得到阻尼材料的等效弹性矩阵.逆用Hashin-Shtrikman界限理论,估计对应于期望等效模量的阻尼材料体积分数限,并构建阻尼材料体积约束限的移动准则.将获得阻尼材料微结构期望性能的优化问题转化为体积约束下最大化等效模量的优化问题,建立阻尼材料微结构的拓扑优化模型.利用优化准则法更新设计变量,实现最小材料用量下的阻尼材料微结构最优拓扑设计.通过典型数值算例验证了该方法的可行性和有效性,并讨论了初始微构型、网格依赖性和弹性模量等对阻尼材料微结构的影响.     

A Constitutive Model for Magnetostrictive Materials - Theory and Finite Element Implementation

A 3D macroscopic constitutive law for hysteresis effects in magnetostrictive materials is presented and a finite element implementation is provided. The novel aspect of the thermodynamically consistent model is an additive decomposition of the magnetic and the strain field in a reversible and an irreversible part. Employing the irreversible magnetic field is advantageous for a finite element implementation, where the displacements and magnetic scalar potential are the nodal degrees of freedom. To consider the correlation between the irreversible magnetic field and the irreversible strains a one-to-one relation is assumed. The irreversible magnetic field determines as internal variable the movement of the center of a switching surface. This controls the motion of the domain walls during the magnetization process. The evolution of the internal variables is derived from the magnetic enthalpy function by the postulate of maximum dissipation, where the switching surface serves as constraint. The evolution equations are integrated using the backward Euler implicit integration scheme. The constitutive model is implemented in a 3D hexahedral element which provides an algorithmic consistent tangent stiffness matrix. A numerical example demonstrates the capability of the proposed model to reproduce the ferromagnetic hysteresis loops of a Terfenol-D sample. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Finite element approximationof a nonlinear elliptic equation arising from bimaterial problemsin elastic-plastic mechanics

Summary. In [13], a nonlinear elliptic equation arising from elastic-plastic mechanics is studied. A well-posed weak formulation is established for the equation and some regularity results are further obtained for the solution of the boundary problem. In this work, the finite element approximation of this boundary problem is examined in the framework of [13]. Some error bounds for this approximation are initially established in an energy type quasi-norm, which naturally arises in degenerate problems of this type and proves very useful in deriving sharper error bounds for the finite element approximation of such problems. For sufficiently regular solutions optimal error bounds are then obtained for some fully degenerate cases in energy type norms. Received June 12, 1998 / Revised version received June 21, 1999 / Published online June 8, 2000     

A Phase Field Approach for Dynamic Fracture

In phase field fracture models cracks are indicated by the value of a scalar field variable which interpolates smoothly between broken and undamaged material. The evolution equation for this crack field is coupled to the mechanical field equations in order to model the mutual interaction between the crack evolution and mechanical quantities. In finite element simulations of crack growth at comparatively slow loading velocities, a quasi-static phase field model yields reasonable results. However, the simulation of fast loading or the nucleation of new cracks challenges the limits of such a formulation. Here, the quasi-static phase field model predicts brutal crack extension with an artificially high crack speed. In this work, we analyze to which extend a dynamic formulation of the mechanical part of the phase field model can overcome this paradox created by the quasi-static formulation. In finite element simulations, the impact of the dynamic effects is studied, and differences between the crack propagation behavior of the quasi-static model and the dynamic formulation are highlighted. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Stochastic Material and Topology Design

In order to find a robust optimal topology or material design with respect to stochastic variations of the model parameters of a mechanical structure, the basic optimization problem under stochastic uncertainty must be replaced by an appropriate deterministic substitute problem. Starting from the equilibrium equation and the yield/strength conditions, the problem can be formulated as a stochastic (linear) program “with recourse”. Hence, by discretization the design space by finite elements, linearizing the yield conditions, in case of discrete probability distributions the resulting deterministic substitute problems are linear programs with a dual decomposition data structure.     

Modelling and numerical approach to a class of metal‐forming problems—Quasi‐steady case

A class of quasi‐steady metal‐forming problems, with rigid‐plastic, incompressible, strain and strain‐rate dependent material model and with unilateral frictionless and nonlinear, nonlocal Coulomb's frictional contact conditions is considered. A coupled variational formulation, constituted of a variational inequality, with nonlinear and nondifferentiable terms, and a strain evolution equation, is derived and under a restriction on the material characteristics and using a variable stiffness parameters method with time retardation, existence, uniqueness and convergence results are obtained and presented. An algorithm, combining this method and the finite element method, is proposed and applied for solving an example strip drawing problem. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.