TITLE:
Structural Topology Optimization Method for Morphogenesis of Dendriforms
AUTHORS:
Xirong Peng
KEYWORDS:
Dendriforms, Topology Optimization, Morphogenesis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.6 No.4,
September
5,
2016
ABSTRACT: The topology optimization method of continuum structures is adopted for the morphogenesis of dendriforms during the conceptual design phase. The topology optimization model with minimizing structural strain energy as objective and subject to structural weight constraint is established by the independent continuous mapping method (ICM) which is a popular and efficient method for the topology optimization of continuum structures. This optimization model is an optimization problem with a single constraint and can be solved by the iteration formula established based on the saddle condition. Taking the morphogenesis of a plane dendriform as an example, the influences on topologies of the dendriform are discussed for several factors such as the ratio of the reserved weight to the total weight, the stiffness and the geometry shape of the roof structure, the height of the design area, and so on. And several examples of application scenarios are presented, too. Numerical examples show that the proposed structural topology optimization method for the morphogenesis of dendriforms is feasible. It can provide diversiform topologies for the conceptual design of dendriforms.