Simultaneous sizing and topology optimization of extruded elastic thin-walled beams

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach for optimizing extruded thin-walled beams. The main idea of the proposed approach is to formulate the problem’s design variables as line segments with unknown thicknesses. This is attained by viewing the beam’s cross-section as a set of connected line segments, representing the flat folded plates that form its geometry. The design space is defined based on the ground structure approach, enabling layout optimization and the design of general cross-sections. This special parameterization enables leveraging algorithms developed for truss layout optimization.