Ground Beam Structure Based Joint Stiffness Controlling Method for Compliant Mechanisms

Traditionally, the continuum-based topology optimization methods employing the SIMP technique have been used to design compliant mechanisms. Although they have been successful, the optimized mechanisms by the methods are usually difficult to manufacture because of their geometrical complexities. The objective of this study is to develop a topology optimization method that can produce easy-to-fabricate mechanism structure. The proposed method is a ground beam method where beam connectivity is controlled by the beam joint stiffness. In this approach, beam joint stiffness determines the mechanism configuration. Because b the ground structure beams have uniform thicknesses varying only discretely, the resulting mechanism topologies become easily manufacturable.