Explicit structural topology optimization using boundary element method-based moving morphable void approach

This article presents an explicit topology optimization approach using boundary element method based moving morphable void (MMV). Structural analysis in the conventional MMV approach is performed on a fixed mesh over the entire design domain. However, in the proposed method structural boundaries are described using B-splines and discretized with boundary elements making explicit representation of the boundaries possible. In this regard, the proposed approach has following merits: a) the use of weak material, which is often adopted to mimic voids can be completely avoided; b) exact and explicit description of voids in MMV allows the capture of tiny structural features in a robust and effective way; c) numerical instabilities stemming from the use of fixed meshes can be naturally avoided. Several numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Automated summary

This article presents an explicit topology optimization approach using the moving morphable void (MMV) based on the boundary element method. Compared to conventional methods, this approach uses B-splines to describe structural boundaries, avoids the use of weak materials, and enables precise and explicit description of voids to capture tiny structural features effectively. Additionally, it naturally avoids numerical instabilities that may arise from the use of fixed meshes.