Topology optimization of magnetostrictive actuator problems based on the ideas of level set method and phase field method

This paper proposes a topology optimization procedure for magnetostrictive actuator problems. It is useful for the efficient geometrical design of actuator shapes because their shapes have been empirically designed and are not necessarily optimum. In the proposed topology optimization procedure, a level set field over a fixed design domain is introduced to implicitly represent their shapes and its second order gradient term analogous to phase field is also introduced to control its geometrical complexity. Adjoint variable method is utilized for its sensitivity analysis. To verify the proposed topology optimization procedure, numerical experiments of push rod part and magnetostrictive rod parts to maximize mechanical displacement under magnetic fields are demonstrated. © 2013 The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.