Topology optimization of contact-aided thermo-mechanical regulators

TL;DR

This paper presents a topology optimization framework for designing contact-aided thermo-mechanical regulators with tunable thermal properties, leveraging a coupled non-linear finite element model and self-contact modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel topology optimization approach for thermo-mechanical regulators that utilize self-contact to achieve tunable heat transfer properties.

Findings

Designs of switches, diodes, and triodes demonstrated.

Effective thermal conductivity can be tuned via mechanical deformation.

The method successfully optimizes complex contact-aided heat transfer components.

Abstract

Topology optimization is used to systematically design contact-aided thermo-mechanical regulators, i.e. components whose effective thermal conductivity is tunable by mechanical deformation and contact. The thermo-mechanical interactions are modeled using a fully coupled non-linear thermo-mechanical finite element framework. To obtain the intricate heat transfer response, the components leverage self-contact, which is modeled using a third medium contact method. The effective heat transfer properties of the regulators are tuned by solving a topology optimization problem using a traditional gradient based algorithm. Several designs of thermo-mechanical regulators in the form of switches, diodes and triodes are presented.