PyHexTop: a compact Python code for topology optimization using hexagonal elements

TL;DR

PyHexTop is a simple, open-source Python code for topology optimization using hexagonal elements, aimed at education and easy understanding, based on existing MATLAB code and designed for compliance minimization problems.

Contribution

It introduces a concise Python implementation for topology optimization with hexagonal elements, facilitating learning and exploration for beginners.

Findings

Provides a clear, educational Python code for topology optimization.

Uses hexagonal elements to naturally avoid checkerboard patterns.

Successfully applied to classic and extended problems, demonstrating effectiveness.

Abstract

Python serves as an open-source and cost-effective alternative to the MATLAB programming language. This paper introduces a concise topology optimization Python code, named ``\texttt{PyHexTop}," primarily intended for educational purposes. Code employs hexagonal elements to parameterize design domains as such elements provide checkerboard-free optimized design naturally. \texttt{PyHexTop} is developed based on the ``\texttt{HoneyTop90}" MATLAB code~\cite{kumar2023honeytop90} and uses the \texttt{NumPy} and \texttt{SciPy} libraries. Code is straightforward and easily comprehensible, proving a helpful tool that can help people new in the topology optimization field to learn and explore. \texttt{PyHexTop} is specifically tailored to address compliance minimization with specified volume constraints. The paper provides a detailed explanation of the code for solving the Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm beam and extensions to solve problems different problems. The code is publicly shared at: https://github.com/PrabhatIn/PyHexTop