Publications

Mixed variational formulations for structural topology optimization based on the phase-field approach

Author(s)
Michele Marino, Ferdinando Auricchio, Alessandro Reali, Elisabetta Rocca, Ulisse Stefanelli
Abstract

We propose a variational principle combining a phase-field functional for structural topology optimization with a mixed (three-field) Hu–Washizu functional, then including directly in the formulation equilibrium, constitutive, and compatibility equations. The resulting mixed variational functional is then specialized to derive a classical topology optimization formulation (where the amount of material to be distributed is an a priori assigned quantity acting as a global constraint for the problem) as well as a novel topology optimization formulation (where the amount of material to be distributed is minimized, hence with no pre-imposed constraint for the problem). Both formulations are numerically solved by implementing a mixed finite element scheme, with the second approach avoiding the introduction of a global constraint, hence respecting the convenient local nature of the finite element discretization. Furthermore, within the proposed approach it is possible to obtain guidelines for settings proper values of phase-field-related simulation parameters and, thanks to the combined phase-field and Hu–Washizu rationale, a monolithic algorithm solution scheme can be easily adopted. An insightful and extensive numerical investigation results in a detailed convergence study and a discussion on the obtained final designs. The numerical results clearly highlight differences between the two formulations as well as advantages related to the monolithic solution strategy; numerical investigations address both two-dimensional and three-dimensional applications.

Organisation(s)
Department of Mathematics, Research Platform Accelerating Photoreaction Discovery
External organisation(s)
Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Università degli studi di Pavia, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", CNR
Journal
Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
Volume
64
Pages
2627-2652
No. of pages
26
ISSN
1615-147X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-021-03017-8
Publication date
10-2021
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
101016 Optimisation
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Control and Systems Engineering, Software, Computer Science Applications, Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design, Control and Optimization
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/mixed-variational-formulations-for-structural-topology-optimization-based-on-the-phasefield-approach(2f2d9031-6e39-4bff-ab6f-5ed561791d57).html