NEW DISCRETE TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR INDUSTRIAL TASKS

Nowadays the development of mechanical components is driven by ambitious targets. Engineers have to fulfill technical requirements under the restrictions of reducing costs and weights simultaneously. Therefore in the last years optimization methods have been integrated in the development process of industrial companies. Today, especially topology optimization methods, have gained in importance and are standard for developing casting parts. Stress or strain-energy information is used for sensitivities in all topology optimization methods. The method SIMP, today's standard in industry, uses continuous material modeling and gradient algorithms. ESO/BESO use discrete modeling and specific algorithms depending on the individual approaches. The new Topology Optimization method uses a discrete modeling, too. The number of modified elements is controlled by the progress of the constraint. For solving tasks in the industrial development process, a topology optimization method must enable an easy and fast usage and must support manufacturing restrictions.