H. C. Rodrigues

Generalized topology design of structures with a buckling load criterion

Material based models for topology optimization of linear elastic solids with a low volume constraint generate very slender structures composed mainly of bars and beam elements. For this type of structure the value of the buckling critical load becomes one of the most important design criteria and so its control is very important for meaningful practical designs. This paper tries to address this problem, presenting an approach to introduce the possibility of critical load control into the topology optimization model.Using the material based formulation for topology design of structures, the problem of optimal structural reinforcement for a critical load criterion is formulated. The stability problem is conveniently reduced to a linearized eigenvalue problem assuming only material effective properties and macroscopic instability modes. The respective optimality criteria are presented by introducing the Lagrangian associated with the optimization problem. Based on this Lagrangian a first-order method is used as a basis for the numerical update scheme. Two numerical examples to validate the developments are presented and analysed.

A Model of Bone Adaptation Using a Global Optimisation Criterion Based on the Trajectorial Theory of Wolff.

Julius Wolff originally proposed that trabecular bone was influenced by mechanical stresses during the formative processes of growth and repair such that trabeculae were required to intersect at right angles. In this work, we have developed an analytical parametric microstructural model, which captures this restriction. Using homogenisation theory, a global material model was obtained. An optimal structure constructed of the homogenised material could then be found by optimising a cost function accounting for both the structural stiffness and the biological cost associated with metabolic maintenance of the bone tissue. The formulation was applied to an example problem of the proximal femur. Optimal densities and orientations were obtained for single load cases. The situation of multiple loads was also considered. In this case, we observe that the alignment of principal strains with the material orthotropy direction is, in general, not possible for all load cases. Thus less restrictive microstructures (nonorthotropic) will yield higher structural stiffnesses than strictly orthotropic microstructures.

Numerical modeling of bone tissue adaptation—A hierarchical approach for bone apparent density and trabecular structure

In this work, a three-dimensional model for bone remodeling is presented, taking into account the hierarchical structure of bone. The process of bone tissue adaptation is mathematically described with respect to functional demands, both mechanical and biological, to obtain the bone apparent density distribution (at the macroscale) and the trabecular structure (at the microscale). At global scale bone is assumed as a continuum material characterized by equivalent (homogenized) mechanical properties. At local scale a periodic cellular material model approaches bone trabecular anisotropy as well as bone surface area density. For each scale there is a material distribution problem governed by density-based design variables which at the global level can be identified with bone relative density. In order to show the potential of the model, a three-dimensional example of the proximal femur illustrates the distribution of bone apparent density as well as microstructural designs characterizing both anisotropy and bone surface area density. The bone apparent density numerical results show a good agreement with Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) exams. The material symmetry distributions obtained are comparable to real bone microstructures depending on the local stress field. Furthermore, the compact bone porosity is modeled giving a transversal isotropic behavior close to the experimental data. Since, some computed microstructures have no permeability one concludes that bone tissue arrangement is not a simple stiffness maximization issue but biological factors also play an important role.

Optimal design of periodic linear elastic microstructures

Abstract This paper presents two computational models to design the periodic microstructure of cellular materials for optimal elastic properties. The material equivalent mechanical properties are obtained through a homogenization model. The two formulations address the problem of finding the optimal representative microstructural element for periodic media that maximizes either the weighted sum of the equivalent strain energy density for specified multiple macroscopic strain fields, or a linear combination of the equivalent mechanical properties. Constraints on material volume fraction and material symmetries are considered. The computational models are established using finite elements and mathematical programming techniques and tested in several numerical examples.

Multi-objective optimization of structures topology by genetic algorithms

This work develops a computational model for topology optimization of linear elastic structures for situations where more than one objective function is required, each one of them with a different optimal solution.The method is thus developed for multi-objective optimization problems and is based on Genetic Algorithms. Its purpose is to evolve an evenly distributed group of solutions (population) to obtain the optimum Pareto set for the given problem.To reduce computational effort, optimal solutions of each of the single-objective problems are introduced in the initial population.Two numerical examples are presented and discussed to assess the method.

TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL LINEAR ELASTIC STRUCTURES WITH A CONSTRAINT ON PERIMETER

Abstract This work presents a computational model for the topology optimization of a three-dimensional linear elastic structure. The model uses a material distribution approach and the optimization criterion is the structural compliance, subjected to an isoperimetric constraint on volume. Usually the obtained topologies using this approach do not characterize a well-defined structure, i.e. it has regions with porous material and/or with checkerboard patterns. To overcome these problems an additional constraint on perimeter and a penalty on intermediate volume fraction are considered. The necessary conditions for optimum are derived analytically, approximated numerically through a suitable finite element discretization and solved by a first-order method based on the optimization problem augmented Lagrangian. The computational model is tested in several numerical applications.

Integrated topology and boundary shape optimization of 2-D solids

Abstract This study is concerned with the development of an integrated procedure for the computation of the optimal topology as well as the optimal boundary shape of a two-dimensional, linear elastic body. The topology is computed by regarding the body as a domain of the plane with a high density of material and the objective is to maximize the overall stiffness, subject to a constraint on the material volume of the body. This optimal topology is then used as the basis for a shape optimal design method that regards the body as given by boundary curves. For this case the objective is to minimize the maximum value of the Von Mises equivalent stress in the body, subject to an isoperimetric constraint on the area as well as a constraint on the stiffness. The solution procedures for the shape design are based on variational formulations for the problems and the results of a variational analysis are implemented via finite element discretizations. The discretization grids are generated automatically by an elliptical method for general two-dimensional domains. Computational results are presented for the design of a fillet, a beam and a portal frame.

Multiscale modeling of bone tissue with surface and permeability control

Natural biological materials usually present a hierarchical arrangement with various structural levels. The biomechanical behavior of the complex hierarchical structure of bone is investigated with models that address the various levels corresponding to different scales. Models that simulate the bone remodeling process concurrently at different scales are in development. We present a multiscale model for bone tissue adaptation that considers the two top levels, whole bone and trabecular architecture. The bone density distribution is calculated at the macroscale (whole bone) level, and the trabecular structure at the microscale level takes into account its mechanical properties as well as surface density and permeability. The bone remodeling process is thus formulated as a material distribution problem at both scales. At the local level, the biologically driven information of surface density and permeability characterizes the trabecular structure. The model is tested by a three-dimensional simulation of bone tissue adaptation for the human femur. The density distribution of the model shows good agreement with the actual bone density distribution. Permeability at the microstructural level assures interconnectivity of pores, which mimics the interconnectivity of trabecular bone essential for vascularization and transport of nutrients. The importance of this multiscale model relays on the flexibility to control the morphometric parameters that characterize the trabecular structure. Therefore, the presented model can be a valuable tool to define bone quality, to assist with diagnosis of osteoporosis, and to support the development of bone substitutes.

A design model to predict optimal two-material composite structures

A method is presented for the prediction of optimal configurations for two-material composite continuum structures. In the model for this method, both local properties and topology for the stiffer of the two materials are to be predicted. The properties of the second, less stiff material are specified and remain fixed. At the start of the procedure for computational solution, material composition of the structure is represented as a pure mixture of the two materials. This design becomes modified in subsequent steps into a form comprised of a skeleton of concentrated stiffer material, together with a nonoverlapping distribution of the second material to fill the original domain. Computational solutions are presented for two example design problems. A comparison among solutions for different ratios of stiffness between the two materials gives an indication of how the distribution of concentrated stiffer material varies with this factor. An example is presented as well to show how the method can be used to predict an efficient layout for rib-reinforcement of a stamped sheet metal panel.

Necessary conditions for optimal design of structures with a nonsmooth eigenvalue based criterion

Necessary conditions of optimality for maximizing the buckling load for single or multimodal structures are derived using generalized gradients. The possible design dependence of the pre-buckling displacement is taken into account and implies the appearance of a number of adjoint problems not normally present in, for example, standard vibration problems. The relation to other equivalent forms of the necessary conditions are pointed out and the formulae are demonstrated on simple example problems.