TOPress3D: 3D topology optimization with design-dependent pressure loads in MATLAB

TL;DR

TOPress3D is an educational MATLAB tool for 3D topology optimization of structures with design-dependent pressure loads, demonstrating robustness through practical pressure load-bearing structure designs.

Contribution

It introduces a user-friendly MATLAB code for 3D topology optimization with design-dependent pressure loads, incorporating Darcy's law and adjoint sensitivity analysis.

Findings

Successfully designed pressure load-bearing structures.

Demonstrated robustness and versatility of the code.

Provides an accessible educational resource for newcomers.

Abstract

This paper introduces "\texttt{TOPress3D}," a 3D topology optimization MATLAB code for structures subjected to design-dependent pressure loads. With a primary focus on pedagogical objectives, the code provides an easy learning experience, making it a valuable tool and practical gateway for newcomers, students, and researchers towards this topic. \texttt{TOPress3D} uses Darcy's law with a drainage term to link the given pressure load to design variables that, in turn, is converted to consistent nodal loads. Optimization problems focused on compliance minimization under volume constraints with pressure loads are solved. Load sensitivities arising due to design-dependent nature of the loads are evaluated using the adjoint-variable approach. The method of moving asymptotes is used to update the design variables. \texttt{TOPress3D} is constituted by six main parts. Each is described in detail. The code is also tailored to solve different problems. The robustness and success of the code are demonstrated in designing a few pressure load-bearing structures. The code is provided in Appendix~B and is available with extensions in the supplementary material and publicly at \url{https://github.com/PrabhatIn/TOPress3D}.