scholarly journals Data-Driven Additive Manufacturing Constraints for Topology Optimization

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Weiss ◽  
Joshua M. Hamel ◽  
Mark A. Ganter ◽  
Duane W. Storti

Abstract The topology optimization (TO) of structures to be produced using additive manufacturing (AM) is explored using a data-driven constraint function that predicts the minimum producible size of small features in different shapes and orientations. This shape- and orientation-dependent manufacturing constraint, derived from experimental data, is implemented within a TO framework using a modified version of the moving morphable components (MMC) approach. Because the analytic constraint function is fully differentiable, gradient-based optimization can be used. The MMC approach is extended in this work to include a “bootstrapping” step, which provides initial component layouts to the MMC algorithm based on intermediate solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) topology optimization results. This “bootstrapping” approach improves convergence compared with reference MMC implementations. Results from two compliance design optimization example problems demonstrate the successful integration of the manufacturability constraint in the MMC approach, and the optimal designs produced show minor changes in topology and shape compared to designs produced using fixed-radius filters in the traditional SIMP approach. The use of this data-driven manufacturability constraint makes it possible to take better advantage of the achievable complexity in additive manufacturing processes, while resulting in typical penalties to the design objective function of around only 2% when compared with the unconstrained case.

Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Weiss ◽  
Joshua M. Hamel ◽  
Mark A. Ganter ◽  
Duane W. Storti

The topology optimization (TO) of structures to be produced using additive manufacturing (AM) is explored using a data-driven constraint function that predicts the minimum producible size of small features in different shapes and orientations. This shape- and orientation-dependent manufacturing constraint, derived from experimental data, is implemented within a TO framework using a modified version of the Moving Morphable Components (MMC) approach. Because the analytic constraint function is fully differentiable, gradient-based optimization can be used. The MMC approach is extended in this work to include a “bootstrapping” step, which provides initial component layouts to the MMC algorithm based on intermediate Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) topology optimization results. This “bootstrapping” approach improves convergence compared to reference MMC implementations. Results from two compliance design optimization example problems demonstrate the successful integration of the manufacturability constraint in the MMC approach, and the optimal designs produced show minor changes in topology and shape compared to designs produced using fixed-radius filters in the traditional SIMP approach. The use of this data-driven manufacturability constraint makes it possible to take better advantage of the achievable complexity in additive manufacturing processes, while resulting in typical penalties to the design objective function of around only 2% when compared to the unconstrained case.


Author(s):  
Yuqing Zhou ◽  
Tsuyoshi Nomura ◽  
Kazuhiro Saitou

This paper presents a gradient-based multi-component topology optimization (MTO) method for structures assembled from components made by powder bed additive manufacturing. It is built upon our previous work on the continuously-relaxed MTO framework utilizing the concept of fractional component membership. The previous attempt on the integration of the relaxed MTO framework with additive manufacturing constraints, however, suffered from numerical instability for larger size problems, limiting its application to 2D low-resolution examples. To overcome this difficulty, this paper proposes an improved MTO formulation based on a design field regularization and a nonlinear projection of component membership variables, with a focus on powder bed additive manufacturing. For each component, constraints on the maximum allowable build volume (i.e., length, width, and height), the elimination of enclosed voids, and the minimum printable feature size are imposed during the simultaneous optimization of the overall base topology and component partitioning. The scalability of the new MTO formulation is demonstrated by a few 2D examples with much higher resolution than previously reported, and the first reported 3D example of MTO.


Author(s):  
Alain Garaigordobil ◽  
Rubén Ansola ◽  
Igor Fernandez de Bustos

AbstractThis article falls within the scope of topology optimization for Additive Manufacturing processes and proposes an alternative strategy to prevent the phenomenon known as the Dripping Effect. The Dripping Effect is when an overhang constraint is imposed on topology optimization processes for Additive Manufacturing and is defined as the formation of oscillatory contour trends within the prescribed threshold angle. Although these drop-like formations constitute local minimizers of the constraint function, they do not provide a printable feature, and, therefore, they neither eliminate the need to form temporary support structures. So far, there has been no general agreement on how to prevent the Dripping Effect, so this work aims to introduce a strategy that effectively prevents it, and that at the same time may be easy to extrapolate to other types of geometric overhang restrictions. This paper provides a study of the origin of the Dripping Effect and gives detailed instructions on how the proposed prevention strategy is applied. In addition, several benchmark examples where the Dripping Effect is prevented are shown.


Author(s):  
Amir M. Mirzendehdel ◽  
Krishnan Suresh

Additive manufacturing (AM) and topology optimization strongly complement each other in that the complex and optimal designs created through the latter can directly be fabricated through AM, leading to reduced design and fabrication time. As AM expands into multi-material fabrication, there is a natural need for efficient multi-material topology optimization methods, where one must simultaneously optimize the topology, and the distribution of various materials within the topology. In this paper we generalize the single-material Pareto tracing method of topology optimization to multiple materials, and discuss its implementation using assembly-free finite element analysis, and first-order element-sensitivity. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through illustrative examples.


Author(s):  
Yuqing Zhou ◽  
Kazuhiro Saitou

Topology optimization for additive manufacturing has been limited to the component-level designs with the component size smaller than the printer’s build volume. To enable the design of structures larger than the printer’s build volume, this paper presents a gradient-based multi-component topology optimization framework for structures assembled from components built by additive manufacturing. Constraints on component geometry for additive manufacturing are incorporated in the density-based topology optimization, with additional design variables specifying fractional component membership. For each component, constraints on build size, enclosed voids, overhangs, and the minimum length scale are imposed during the simultaneous optimization of overall base topology and component partitioning. The preliminary result on a minimum compliance structure shows promising advantages over the conventional monolithic topology optimization. Manufacturing constraints previously applied to monolithic topology optimization gain new interpretations when applied to multi-component assemblies, which can unlock richer design space for topology exploration.


2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weisheng Zhang ◽  
Wanying Yang ◽  
Jianhua Zhou ◽  
Dong Li ◽  
Xu Guo

Traditional topology optimization is usually carried out with approaches where structural boundaries are represented in an implicit way. The aim of the present paper is to develop a topology optimization framework where both the shape and topology of a structure can be obtained simultaneously through an explicit boundary description and evolution. To this end, B-spline curves are used to describe the boundaries of moving morphable components (MMCs) or moving morphable voids (MMVs) in the structure and some special techniques are developed to preserve the smoothness of the structural boundary when topological change occurs. Numerical examples show that optimal designs with smooth structural boundaries can be obtained successfully with the use of the proposed approach.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Ebeling-Rump ◽  
Dietmar Hömberg ◽  
Robert Lasarzik ◽  
Thomas Petzold

AbstractIn topology optimization the goal is to find the ideal material distribution in a domain subject to external forces. The structure is optimal if it has the highest possible stiffness. A volume constraint ensures filigree structures, which are regulated via a Ginzburg–Landau term. During 3D printing overhangs lead to instabilities. As a remedy an additive manufacturing constraint is added to the cost functional. First order optimality conditions are derived using a formal Lagrangian approach. With an Allen-Cahn interface propagation the optimization problem is solved iteratively. At a low computational cost the additive manufacturing constraint brings about support structures, which can be fine tuned according to demands and increase stability during the printing process.


Author(s):  
Yuqing Zhou ◽  
Tsuyoshi Nomura ◽  
Kazuhiro Saitou

Topology optimization for additive manufacturing has been limited to the design of single-piece components that fit within the printer's build volume. This paper presents a gradient-based multicomponent topology optimization method for structures assembled from components built by powder bed additive manufacturing (MTO-A), which enables the design of multipiece assemblies larger than the printer's build volume. Constraints on component geometry for powder bed additive manufacturing are incorporated in a density-based topology optimization framework, with an additional design field governing the component partitioning. For each component, constraints on the maximum allowable build volume (i.e., length, width, and height) and the elimination of enclosed cavities are imposed during the simultaneous optimization of the overall topology and component partitioning. Numerical results of the minimum compliance designs revealed that manufacturing constraints, previously applied to single-piece topology optimization, can unlock richer design exploration space when applied to multicomponent designs.


Author(s):  
Hampus Hederberg ◽  
Carl-Johan Thore

AbstractDesigns obtained with topology optimization (TO) are usually not safe against damage. In this paper, density-based TO is combined with a moving morphable component (MMC) representation of structural damage in an optimization problem for fail-safe designs. Damage is inflicted on the structure by an MMC which removes material, and the goal of the design problem is to minimize the compliance for the worst possible damage. The worst damage is sought by optimizing the position of the MMC to maximize the compliance for a given design. This non-convex problem is treated using a gradient-based solver by initializing the MMC at multiple locations and taking the maximum of the compliances obtained. The use of MMCs to model damage gives a finite element-mesh-independent method, and by allowing the components to move rather than remain at fixed locations, more robust structures are obtained. Numerical examples show that the proposed method can produce fail-safe designs with reasonable computational cost.


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