Multi-material topology optimization of nuclear devices – principle and application

Abstract

In this paper, we present a multi-material topology optimization procedure, capable of generating the best possible structure of a nuclear device from a list of design objectives and constraints. We propose an example of applying this new tool to calculate the structure of a neutron moderator, which will be used to generate an epithermal field for metrological applications at a facility of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN, France).