Simultaneous shape and topology optimization method for frame structures with multi-materials

In this study, we present a novel non-parametric shape-topology optimization method for frame structures with multi-materials, aiming at designing more light and stiff frame structures. The sum of squared error norm for achieving the target displacements on the specified members is minimized under the volume constraints of multi-materials as a design problem. A simultaneous shape and topology optimization problem is formulated as a distributed-parameter optimization problem based on the variational method. The shape gradient function and the material gradient functions for this design optimization problem are theoretically derived with the Lagrange multiplier method, the material derivative method and the adjoint variable method. The generalized solid isotropic material with penalization (GSIMP) method is employed to classify into the multi-materials in topology optimization. The gradient functions derived are applied to the unified H-1 gradient method for frame structures to determine the optimal shape and material variations. With this method, the optimal free-form and topology for arbitrary large-degree of design freedom frame structures with multi-materials can be obtained without any shape and topology parameterization. Numerical examples with various materials and different boundary conditions are demonstrated and the results are discussed.