Optimal fine-scale structures in compliance minimization for a uniaxial load in three space dimensions

Abstract

We consider the shape and topology optimization problem to design a structure that minimizes a weighted sum of material consumption and (linearly) elastic compliance under a fixed given boundary load. As is well-known, this problem is in general not well-posed since its solution typically requires the use of infinitesimally fine microstructure. Therefore we examine the effect of singularly perturbing the problem by adding the structure perimeter to the cost. For a uniaxial and a shear load in two space dimensions, corresponding energy scaling laws were already derived in the literature. This work now derives the scaling law for the case of a uniaxial load in three space dimensions, which can be considered the simplest three-dimensional setting. In essence, it is expected (and confirmed in this article) that for a uniaxial load the compliance behaves almost like the dissipation in a scalar flux problem so that lower bounds from pattern analysis in superconductors can directly be applied. The upper bounds though require nontrivial modifications of the constructions known from superconductors. Those become necessary since in elasticity one has the additional constraint of torque balance.