Structural Topology Optimization Based on the Smoothed Finite Element Method

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, the smoothed finite element method, incorporated with the level set method, is employed to carry out the topology optimization of continuum structures. The structural compliance is minimized subject to a constraint on the weight of material used. The cell-based smoothed finite element method is employed to improve the accuracy and stability of the standard finite element method. Several numerical examples are presented to prove the validity and utility of the proposed method. The obtained results are compared with those obtained by several standard finite element-based examples in order to access the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method. The common numerical instabilities of the structural topology optimization problems such as checkerboard pattern and mesh dependency are studied in the examples.

Keywords

• Smoothed Finite Element Method
• Level Set Method
• Topology Optimization
• Continuum Structures