Engineering: Computational design hits record resolution.

Abstract

A supercomputer-powered design technique enables the discovery of efficient mechanical structures that have an unprecedented level of detail. The findings provide insights into both physical and biological structures. See Letter p.84 Computational morphogenesis is used to design the best possible shapes and material distributions for the desired structural properties, such as high strength at minimal weight. In plants and animals, morphogenesis occurs naturally through slow genetic evolution. In engineering, a much faster iterative approach for optimum material distribution has been adopted, called topology optimization. So far, it has been used to calculate only small or simple structures owing to limited resolution. Niels Aage et al. have developed a morphogenesis tool that can be run on a supercomputer and can calculate two orders of magnitude more voxels (the three-dimensional equivalents of pixels) than was previously attainable. This makes it possible to design structures with unprecedented detail, yielding new insights into optimal material distribution. The authors calculate an optimized full aircraft wing structure with remarkable structural detail at several length scales, which displays similarities to naturally occurring bone structures such as those seen in bird beaks. The new tool could inspire surprising design approaches for a range of structures, including wind turbine blades, tower masts and bridges.