Shape and Topology Optimized TSHD Midsection

The common practice of designing a ship is to look for ships with similar specifications and alter it to the client's needs. This often leads to structurally redundant and therefore overdimensioned ship designs. Hence, much improvement could be expected from ship structures where optimization algorithms help advise in the design process. In this...

Integral Support Structure and Controller Design of an Offshore Wind Turbine

In the past decade, the wind energy subsidies provided by the Dutch government is declining. In order to adopt wind energy as a well-established source of renewable energy, the costs of (offshore) wind energy should be lowered. This can be achieved by increasing the energy production or by lowering the maintenance and initial costs. In search of...

Applying Deflation Methods in a Topology Optimization Procedure

Structure Optimization has been an important subject with many applications for centuries. In the last sixty years, numerical optimization has facilitated large advancements in this field. One of the areas in Structure Optimization is Topology Optimization, which is used for Additive Manufacturing purposes. In this thesis we explore Static and...

Bio-Inspired Approach to Early Stage Structural Form Finding

The construction industry is responsible for large environmental impacts, one of which is the consumption and depletion of natural resources. In contrast, structures found in nature present holistic approaches to environmental conditions by using only the energy and materials which are required, achieved through ingenuity in form. This research...

Modeling of a compliant force distribution mechanism: For a deforming hydrostatic bearing

Hydrostatic bearings are well known for having low friction and low wear in combination with high loading capacity.Traditionally, the running surfaces for a hydrostatic bearing are plane, rigid and smooth, ensuring a parallel lubricating film in the full range of movement. In this paper, we consider a new type of compliant, hydrostatic bearing...

Design of a compact wearable arm support utilizing shape optimized shell mechanisms: To be worn underneath the surgical gown

Passive exoskeletons that support the weight of the surgeon’s arms could yield a significant ergonomic improvement in the Laparoscopic theatre. However, the cost and regulations associated with sterilization complicates adoption of such devices. In this work a compact passive arm support mechanism is designed that can be worn underneath the...

Structural topology optimization of an active motion compensated gangway

In the offshore industry, there is a growing demand for designing efficient, sustainable and competitive products. In order to fulfil the component requirements, a method named topology optimization can be applied. This is a mathematical design method which can be used in the early phases of the design process.At IHC there is an interest of...

Wettability-controlled permeability of porous PDMS membranes for drug delivery in the brain

Administration of drugs can help in the recovery of the brain for example after a stroke. There are many available delivery routes such as intravenous injection or local injection in the brain. Whereas, the former encounters problems with systemic side effects, the latter requires multiple invasive brain surgery. Local drug administration could...

Photo-patterned, pH-responsive hydrogel membranes for integrated fluid control

To control fluid transport, microfluidic systems often make use of pressure driven flow and pneumatically actuated valves. However these require bulky external instrumentation. An integrated fluid control mechanism would make microfluidic systems more portable, closed and automated. The aim of this project was to create a pH-responsive membrane...

Application of Evolutionary Structural Optimization to Reinforced Concrete Structures

The present thesis has the objective to create a procedure for the automatic preliminary design of reinforced concrete structures, based on the Evolutionary Structural Optimization method (ESO). The developed algorithm performs heuristic topology optimization based on multiple criteria, in subsequent optimization cycles executed in series. In...