Topology and thickness optimization of an indenter under stress and stiffness constraints

Indenter is one of the core components of a waste compression station. In this paper, a new layout free from the existing structure for indenter with lighter weight and good performance is presented. The design procedure includes two steps: Topology optimization and thickness optimization. In topology optimization process, a creative layout of indenter is obtained using Solid isotropic microstructures with penalization (SIMP) method. In thickness optimization process, based on topology optimization results, a design review was conducted, and a revised model was created which addresses all structural and manufacturability concerns. Shape and size optimization was then performed in the detailed design stage to further minimize the mass while meeting the stiffness and stress targets. Finally, an optimized model for the indenter is obtained. From the finite element analysis, it can be seen that there is a 31.8 % reduction in total mass while the performance increased compared with the original model.