Level set-based topology optimization with overhang constraint: Towards support-free additive manufacturing

Abstract

This paper presents a level set-based topology optimization method considering the overhang constraint in additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Though the combination of the topology optimization and AM shows a promising potential and high design flexibility, there are still certain limitations. The overhang constraint is one of the major issues that need to be considered in the design stage. It requires the inclination angles of structural downward-facing surfaces to be larger than a given lower bound, so as to prevent the structure from warping or collapsing during the AM process. We propose a new form of overhang constraint in the level set framework, which is expressed as a single domain integral instead of point-wise constraints. This domain integral form facilitates the detection of overhang constraint violation. The shape derivative of the overhang constraint is derived by using the signed distance property of the level set function. The proposed method is capable of dealing with constraints with different minimum overhang angles. Theoretically, it allows the optimization to proceed from an arbitrary structural layout, without the need to satisfy the overhang constraint in the initial design. Several numerical examples are given to show the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. It is seen in these examples that the overhang constraint is satisfied mainly by adjusting the local shape of structural members violating the overhang constraint during the optimization process. Thus, the overhang angle constrained optimization can generate similar load paths as in conventional optimal designs in most cases, without significantly worsening the structural stiffness.