Design of multiple materials structure based on an explicit and implicit hybrid topology optimization method

In this paper, an explicit and implicit hybrid topology optimization method is proposed for the design of multiple materials structure. The explicit topology optimization employs the moving morphable component (MMC) method to determine where the solid material is present within the design domain. The implicit topology optimization employs the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method to identify material type within the solid material region. The explicit and implicit topology optimization methods are combined through a surrogate material model, resulting in a new hybrid topology optimization framework known as the MMC-SIMP hybrid topology optimization method. The proposed method retains the advantages of both individual optimization methods, allowing for explicit boundary representation and high design freedom in material selection. The element density function and sensitivity analysis are conducted based on two-phase materials topology optimization. Finally, some numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.