Voxel topology optimization of vehicle frame structure using building cube method framework

Abstract

To obtain the conceptual structure of an automobile frame from a large area of metal blocks by topology optimization, a volume constraint of less than 1% and sufficient element resolution are required. By using the building cube method framework, usually a finite volume method solver using hierarchical orthogonal lattices, as a voxel finite element method solver for orthogonal lattices with connectivity, we perform iterative topology optimization in a massively parallel environment. Topology optimization of billions of elements intended for a vehicle frame is performed using tens of thousands of processors and its parallel performance is measured.