Optimization Of Curved Plated Structures With The Finite Strip And Finite Element Methods

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare two available numerical tools for solving of partial differential equations for the optimal design of structures. In the past years numerous methods were developed for topology optimization, from these we have adopted the optimality criteria (OC) approach. The main idea is that we state the optimal conditions, that the minimizer has to fulfil at the end of an iterative proves. This method however is not a general one, only advantageous in the case of separable problems, but comes with fast speed, easy programming, and a relative insensitivity of computational time to the number of variables. In the paper we suggest a new method for the elimination of a numerical error, the so called ‘checkerboard pattern’. In the presented examples we applied one loading case and an elastic material behaviour. The cost function is the net weight of the structure and upper bound of the compliance is set as the optimality constraint.

Keywords

• Topology
• optimization
• optimality criteria
• finite element method
• finite strip method
• FEM
• FSM