Topology Optimization with Frictional Self-Contact

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel topology optimization framework that effectively handles large deformations and complex frictional self-contact scenarios, improving robustness and accuracy in contact-aware structural design.

Contribution

It combines SIMP, adjoint sensitivity analysis, and the IPC frictional-contact model to enhance contact-aware topology optimization methods.

Findings

Successfully optimizes structures with complex self-contact scenarios.

Demonstrates robustness and accuracy in large deformation cases.

Provides numerical examples validating the approach.

Abstract

Contact-aware topology optimization faces challenges in robustness, accuracy, and applicability to internal structural surfaces under self-contact. This work builds on the recently proposed barrier-based Incremental Potential Contact (IPC) model and presents a new self-contact-aware topology optimization framework. A combination of SIMP, adjoint sensitivity analysis, and the IPC frictional-contact model is investigated. Numerical examples for optimizing varying objective functions under contact are presented. The resulting algorithm proposed solves topology optimization for large deformation and complex frictionally contacting scenarios with accuracy and robustness.