Application of an energy-based model for the optimal design of structural materials and topology

This paper describes an implementation of recent developments in modelling for the design of continuum structures into a general program for computational solution of such problems. In the basic model, the unrestricted material tenser appears as the design variable. The algorithm for this program is presented and the method of solution is described. The approach is applicable to predict both the optimal unrestricted material design and as well for design with a specified material. In either case, the distributions (fields) of all designable components of the material tensor are predicted. Results are given for 2D and 3D examples, in the form of continuously varying material properties and for various values of volume fraction. The associated zero-one or topology designs are obtained by application of an additional procedure to these results. Comparison against results from earlier approaches indicates that optimization of the material may lead to considerable improvement in structural performance.