Imposing minimum length scale in moving morphable component (MMC)-based topology optimization using an effective connection status (ECS) control method

Topology optimization has been widely used in numerous multidisciplinary optimization problems, but reliable industrial manufacturing for optimal results is still severely hampered by problems such as tiny holes or cracks and hinges in structural design. A crucial solution is to consider the minimum scale control directly in the design phase. In this paper, a new method based on the moving morphable component (MMC) is presented. This concept uses a virtual component skeleton (VCS)-based effective connection status (ECS) control approach. The greatest advantage of the proposed method is that the minimum length scale can be determined by the minimum thickness of component, thus fulfilling the precise adjustment of the minimum length scale without the effect of component geometry. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated for topology optimization of the minimum compliance problem and compliant mechanisms. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.