Design of conducting paths based on topology optimization

In this paper, a new method based on topology optimization is developed to solve the volume-to-point heat conduction problem with distributed heat sources, which can construct the conducting paths by distributing high conductive materials. The closer natural tree of conducting paths is obtained by the present method when the heat source is uniform. The better heat transfer performance of the conducting paths for the volume-to-point (VP) problem can be obtained than those by the existing methods. The difference among the existing methods is discussed.