Design of planar link mechanisms via multi-layered topology optimization

Abstract

This study explores the design methodology for planar linkage mechanisms through topology optimization of a two-layer elastic body model. The application of topology optimization to mechanisms is expected to enable the creation of energy-efficient and high-stiffness mechanical systems; however, the approach remains unexplored. In this study, a planar linkage mechanism is approximately modeled using two elastic body layers connected by springs, allowing for the simultaneous optimization of link structures and joint placements through topology optimization. To obtain an optimal structure that functions appropriately as a mechanism, an optimization problem considering the degrees of freedom of the mechanism is formulated. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through numerical examples.