Topology optimization under thermo-elastic buckling

TL;DR

This paper introduces a level-set based topology optimization method for continuum structures under thermally induced buckling, utilizing topological sensitivity analysis and an augmented Lagrangian approach for improved robustness and efficiency.

Contribution

It presents a novel level-set approach with topological sensitivity analysis for thermo-elastic buckling, addressing limitations of existing material parameterization methods.

Findings

The proposed method effectively avoids pseudo buckling modes.

Numerical experiments demonstrate robustness and efficiency in 3D cases.

The approach outperforms traditional SIMP and RAMP methods in stability.

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on topology optimization of continuum structures subject to thermally induced buckling. Popular strategies for solving such problems include Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) and Rational Approximation of Material Properties (RAMP). Both methods rely on material parameterization, and can sometimes exhibit pseudo buckling modes in regions with low pseudo-densities. Here we consider a level-set approach that relies on the concept of topological sensitivity. Topological sensitivity analysis for thermo-elastic buckling is carried out via direct and adjoint formulations. Then, an augmented Lagrangian formulation is presented that exploits these sensitivities to solve a buckling constrained problem. Numerical experiments in 3D illustrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed method.