CMTO: Configurable-design-element multiscale topology optimization

This paper introduces a configurable-design-element multiscale topology optimization (CMTO) framework, which is comprised of several design elements, including complex shape, rational distribution, efficient prediction, well connection, robust printing and other design elements. Five momentous elements in CMTO are elaborated, which refer to geometric description of macrostructures and microstructures, property distribution of microstructures within a macrostructure and material distribution within a microstructure, property prediction of microstructures, connectivity between adjacent microstructures, and manufacturability of multiscale structures by 3D-printing, respectively. The design of 2D and 3D thermal carpet cloak is provided to show the implementation of CMTO. Simulated and experimental results indicate its powerful capability of designing multiscale structures. CMTO is flexible and easy-to-implement, which will greatly enrich the methods in the field of structural optimization and hopefully open a door to the design of novel structures with extraordinary properties, such as all kinds of metamaterials.