Toward static and transient stress-constrained topology optimization for shell-infill structures

Abstract

This paper contributes to a stress-constrained topology optimization approach for the design of shell-infill structures. Based on the density method, we utilize the two-step filtering and projection scheme and local volume constraint for generating the shell and non-uniform infills, respectively. The topology optimization formulation is defined as a Robust Minimum Compliance problem with Volume and Stress constraints (RMCVS), where the robust method is used to eliminate undesired topological characteristics. We globalize the static and transient stress constraints through the p-norm function, and tailor material interpolation and stress relaxation schemes for both cases, respectively, to avoid numerical difficulties. Sensitivity analysis is provided, and the derivatives of the objective function and constraints with respect to the design variable fields are derived. We then validate the suggested method through several 2D and 3D benchmarks. The results illustrate that the method is robust to generate various shell-infill structures while limiting the maximum static and transient stress.