Abstract
Recently, topology optimization of three dimensional (3D) structures is paid attention again by the development of manufacturing technology using 3D printer. Therefore, in this paper, an efficient topology optimization method for 3D structures is proposed. In the proposed method, CA-ESO method is used for the topology optimization and the voxel finite element method is used for the stress analysis of 3D structures. In this method, the design domain is divided in same rectangular parallelepiped elements (voxels), and in the optimization process, elements with low stress are deleted by ESO (Evolutionary Structural Optimization) method, and peripheral elements of the element with high stress are generated by CA (Cellular Automaton) method. Also, in the voxel finite element method, the stress assumed element, CG solver, and element by element method are used. Several numerical examples are shown in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present method for 3D structures.
