Structural topology optimization under stationary random base acceleration excitations

Abstract

Structural topology optimization subjected to stationary random base acceleration excitations is investigated in this paper. In the random response analysis, the Large Mass Method (LMM) which attributes artificial large mass values at each driven nodal Degree Of Freedom (DOF) to transforming the base acceleration excitations into force excitations is proposed. The Complete Quadratic Combination (CQC) which is commonly used to calculate the random responses in previous optimization has been proven to be computationally expensive especially for large-scale problems. In order to conquer this difficulty, the Pseudo Excitation Method (PEM) and the combined method of PEM and Mode Acceleration Method (MAM) are adopted into the dynamic topology optimization, and random responses are calculated using these two methods to ascertain a high efficiency over the CQC. A density-based topology optimization method minimizing dynamic responses is then formulated based on the integration of LMM and PEM or the combined method of PEM and MAM. Numerical examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the proposed schemes in dynamic response analysis and the quality of the optimized design in improving dynamic performance.