Concurrent topology optimization of multiple components sharing partial design domain based on distance regularized parameterized level set method

In this article, the distance regularized parameterized level set method (DRPLSM) is proposed, which introduces a specified energy functional into the level set equation as the distance regularization term. Geometric verification shows that the distance regularization scheme keeps the level set function near the structural boundary as an approximate signed distance function. Based on benchmark example of the cantilever beam, it is verified that the DRPLSM can avoid the re-initialization of level set function in the optimization process and obtain smooth structural boundary. The DRPLSM is applied to multicomponent concurrent topology optimization with partially shared design domain for the first time. It makes the optimization results have smooth structural boundaries. The optimization objective of this algorithm is to minimize the structural compliance of all components. The sharing domain is divided into different design domains according to the strain energy of elements. The optimality of the proposed algorithm for partitioning the sharing domain is verified using the literature example with known optimal solutions. A symmetric structure example, a main and auxiliary optimization structure example and an example with design-dependent boundary loads show that the proposed concurrent optimization algorithm has wide applicability.