Project Abstract

Structural sizing optimization is becoming a standard tool in the structural engineering design process. It is a very effective tool for component level design, allowing engineers to identify sections that, for example, minimize weight while satisfying performance requirements. Sizing optimization is performed on a fixed connectivity and is thus typically employed late in the design process after structural form and systems have been decided. A more general form of structural optimization is topology optimization, where the goal is to identify the optimal connectivity, or structural form, upon which a more detailed sizing optimization could then be performed. Consider the simple design problem of maximizing stiffness of a span that is subjected to the pressure load illustrated in Figure 1a. The topology optimization algorithm, starting with an empty box and no initial guess, produces the arch structure shown in Figure 1b. As we are capable of starting with a blank canvas, topology optimization algorithms are much less restrictive than sizing optimization algorithms and thus facilitate the discovery of new design ideas at the system level.

Fig. 1: The design domain (a) subjected to pressure load and pin boundary conditions is optimized for maximum stiffness. The solution (b) resembles an arch form. Note that no initial design was provided - domain (a) is ‘empty’.

The objective of this project is to develop an interactive topology optimization software program and to freely distribute it through this website. In doing so, we hope to promote the capabilities of structural topology optimization and to provide a design idea tool to engineers and students. We currently offer a Windows executable version of the software and a web-based application is currently undergoing beta-testing. The program currently models structures as a 2D continuum and solves the optimization problem using the SIMP interpolation (Bendsoe 1989), HPM for controlling length scale (Guest et al. 2004), and MMA (Svanberg 1987) as the optimizer. Details and references are provided in the user manual. We will be updating this page and the program often so please check back!

 

Downloadable versions are .zip format and should be expanded after download is complete.

• Windows Executable and User Manual (for users that have previously installed Mathworks MCRInstaller v. 7.11): download (9.6 MB)
• Windows Executable and User Manual (for users that have not previously installed Mathworks MCRInstaller v. 7.11): download (185.2 MB)
• MATLAB-compatible version and User Manual: download (9.5 MB)
• Web-based application: currently in beta-testing

Please send questions, comments, and bug reports to topopt at jhu dot edu.