A review on additive manufacturing and topology optimization process for weight reduction studies in various industrial applications

Abstract

Topology optimization is evolution of generating optimized components in the view of various design parameters. Creating optimal designs during the design process reduces the cost and eliminates design failures. Additive manufacturing is the assuredly severance manufacturing technology when compared with the conventional machining processes, where the product is built layer by layer by using the complex CAD models. The integration of topology optimization with additive manufacturing technologies develops lightweight parts by reducing assembling of number of parts which in return reduces cost and saves material. This review article mainly focuses on expeditious developments in additive manufacturing using topology optimization techniques. For using topology optimization in AM technologies different software’s are used by using different AM constraints. Challenges in this type of integration depend on design approach, material structure and different process parameters. The article reviews about the different considerations of constraints in topology and topography optimizations in various applications of automotive, aerospace& aircraft applications. The optimization algorithm is based on gradient based using optistruct software which uses solid tetrahedron meshing element. The resulting topology under different considerations are developed using optistruct software for 3D printing.