An explicit length scale control approach in SIMP-based topology optimization

The present paper aims to present a new approach for controlling both maximum and minimum length scales of structural members in the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP)-based topology optimization framework. In the proposed approach, length scale control is achieved with help of structural skeleton, which is a key concept in mathematical morphology and a powerful tool for describing structural topologies. Numerical examples show that the proposed approach does have the capability to give a complete control of the length scales of an optimal structure in an explicit and local way. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.