Reliability-Based Topology Optimization of Fail-Safe Structures Using Moving Morphable Bars

Abstract

This paper proposes an effective reliability design optimization method for fail-safe topology optimization (FSTO) considering uncertainty based on the moving morphable bars method to establish the ideal balance between cost and robustness, reliability and structural safety. To this end, a performance measure approach (PMA)-based double-loop optimization algorithm is developed to minimize the relative volume percentage while achieving the reliability criterion. To ensure the compliance value of the worst failure case can better approximate the quantified design requirement, a p-norm constraint approach with correction parameter is introduced. Finally, the significance of accounting for uncertainty in the fail-safe design is illustrated by contrasting the findings of the proposed reliability-based topology optimization (RBTO) method with those of the deterministic design method in three typical examples. Monte Carlo simulation shows that the relative error of the reliability index of the optimized structure does not exceed 3%.