Topology Optimization Algorithm for Plates and Shells Subjected to Plastic Deformations

Abstract

Abstract A topology optimization method for plates and shells subjected to plastic deformations is presented. The algorithms is based on the generalized layout optimization method invented by Bendsϕe and Kikuchi (1988), where an admissible design domain is assumed to be composed of microstructures with periodic cavities. The sizes of the cavities and the rotational angles of the microstructures are design variables which are optimized so as to minimize the applied work. The macroscopic material tensor for the porous material is numerically calculated by the homogenization method for the sensitivity analysis. In this paper, the method is applied to two-dimensional elasto-plastic problems. A database of the material tensor and its interpolation technique are presented. The algorithm is expanded into thin shells subjected to finite deformations. Several numerical examples are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of these algorithms.