Topology optimization of thermoelastic structures using MMV method

Abstract

Thermoelastic problems refer to a coupled phenomenon existing in a wide range of practical applications where elastic responses are influenced by temperature variation. Meanwhile, Moving Morphable Void (MMV) approach receives extensive attentions owing to explicit topological geometric information. In MMV method, a closed B-spline curve defined by several design variables is adopted to describe void material in design domain. In present study, we intend to use the MMV method to topologically optimize the thermoelastic structures under uniform temperature increment and varying temperature field. The weak formulations of heat conduction and elasticity are combined to describe the thermoelastic problems. The optimization mathematical model with the aim of compliance minimization and volume constraint is constructed. The sensitivity of design variables is derived by material derivative method and adjoint sensitivity analysis method. The method of moving asymptote (MMA) algorithm is implemented to update the design variables for finding the best material distribution. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.