COMPUTING DEFLECTIONS OF TOPOLOGICALLY OPTIMIZED BEAMS

Abstract

In civil engineering, computing deflections is a fundamental step in the structural design process. However, most structural optimization codes do not directly compute or evaluate displacements in the resulting optimized structures. In that context, this work presents the basis of an approach to compute and analyze deflections (vertical displacements) in optimized beams. Using Matlab®, we implemented an extension to the FEM-based 99 Line Topology Optimization Code (Sigmund, 2001), which is able to compute deflections and plot deformed shapes of optimized structures, allowing users to analyze deformation during the design process. We also compared maximum deflections of optimized versus nonoptimized beams. According to results, for constant boundary conditions, optimized beams present smaller maximum deflections.