Computational design of patient-specific orthopedic implants: from micro-architected materials to shape-matching geometry

Background: Despite over a century’s worth of technical improvements, the longterm survivability associated with orthopedic implants continues to fall short. In contrast to earlier designs, implant failure is no longer caused by structural failure of the implant itself. Rather, it results from the implant’s long-term detrimental effects on the...

Efficient Thermal Modelling and Topology Optimization for Additive Manufacturing

With the advent of Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques, the design principle of `form follows function' no longer remains a utopian proposition. The unprecedented design freedom offered by AM is making it possible to conceptualize highly performant designs by efficiently leveraging geometrical complexity. The increase in design freedom...

Topology optimization of compliant mechanisms with multiple degrees of freedom

High-tech equipment critically relies on the precise and reliable fine alignment of components such as mirrors and lenses for calibration and adaptation of instrumentation. To meet the ever-increasing requirements on precision, engineers typically resort to monolithic compliant mechanisms. These mechanisms gain mobility by deformation of the...

Topology optimization for dynamic and controlled systems: With application to motion system design

High-precision motion systems are crucial for many applications, such as in semiconductor equipment, microscopy, robotics, and medical devices. Next to high operating speeds, high accuracy and precision are required, which makes the design of these systems a challenging task. Dynamics, feedback control, and their interaction all play an...

A discontinuity-enriched finite element method for the computational design of phononic crystals

Phononic crystals can be designed to have bandgaps---ranges of frequencies whose propagation through the material is prevented. They are therefore attractive for vibration isolation applications in different industries, where unwanted vibrations reduce performance. Yet, important steps are still to be made for the integration of phononic...

Architectural Robotics: Bridging the Divide between Academic Research and Industry

The presented research addresses the question of how to bridge the divide between academic research and industry in the domain of by investigating aspects of computational design , robotic fabrication and their impact on practice via a series of experiments and case studies. Research sub-questions related to the architectural model , geometry...

Enriched finite element methods for fracture-based analysis and design

Cracks, which could nucleate and propagate in engineering structures, could have an adverse effect on mechanical performance and even lead to catastrophic failure. Thus, it is critical to investigate structural behavior under fracture, which requires an appropriate modeling methodology for fracture analysis. Furthermore, designing structures...

Topology optimization for additive manufacturing: a front propagation-based approach

This thesis a method is described to include manufacturing constraints of the additive manufacturing process into topology optimization. Topology optimization often results in complex structures, which can only be produced by additive manufacturing. Although additive manufacturing has much fewer design restrictions compared to conventional...

Towards a systematic design approach of D-regions in reinforced concrete: Optimization-based generation of Strut-and-Tie models

Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures are widely used in our society for more than a century. In order to design safe and economical RC structures, various methods have been proposed by engineers and researchers. Remarkably, it still is a challenging task for engineers to design D-regions of RC structures, regions with nonlinear strain...

Topology optimization for high-resolution designs: Application in solar cell metallization

Due to global population growth and industrial development, there is a rising demand for energy. It is desired that this demand is met in a cleaner and more sustainable way. Among the various renewable energy sources, solar power is experiencing remarkable growth throughout the world. To ensure that solar power can be a sustainable solution for...

Mastering Electro-Mechanical Dynamics of Large Off-Shore Direct-Drive Wind Turbine Generators

The ever growing population of human beings on earth introduces the challenge of providing affordable, sustainable energy for everyone. Emerging markets, such as China, India or Brazil, quench their thirst for cheap energy by fossil fuels and nuclear power. At the same time researchers from all over the globe warn the public of the advent of a...

Topology Optimization with Stress Constraints

This thesis contains contributions to the development of topology optimization techniques capable of handling stress constraints. The research that led to these contributions was motivated by the need for topology optimization techniques more suitable for industrial applications. Currently, topology optimization is mainly used in the initial...

Statically Balanced Compliant Mechanisms: Theory and Synthesis

Pushing the Boundaries: Level-set Methods and Geometrical Nonlinearities in Structural Topology Optimization

This thesis aims at understanding and improving topology optimization techniques focusing on density-based level-set methods and geometrical nonlinearities. Central in this work are the numerical modeling of the mechanical response of a design and the consistency of the optimization process itself. Concerning the first topic, we investigate...

Design optimization of shape memory alloy structures

This thesis explores the possibilities of design optimization techniques for designing shape memory alloy structures. Shape memory alloys are materials which, after deformation, can recover their initial shape when heated. This effect can be used for actuation. Emerging applications for shape memory alloys are e.g. miniaturized medical...