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...

Overhang control in topology optimization: a comparison of continuous front propagation-based and discrete layer-by-layer overhang control

Although additive manufacturing (AM) allows for a large design freedom, there are some manufacturing limitations that have to be taken into consideration. One of the most restricting design rules is the minimum allowable overhang angle. To make topology optimization suitable for AM, several algorithms have been published to enforce a minimum...

Topology Optimization for additive manufacturing with distortion constraints

An important cause of failure in powder bed additive manufacturing is the distortion of the part due to thermal shrinkage during printing and the relaxation of residual stresses after its release from the base plate. In this paper, Additive Manufacturing simulations are coupled with Topology Optimization in order to generate designs that are...

Overhang control based on front propagation in 3D topology optimization for additive manufacturing

It is attractive to combine topology optimization (TO) with additive manufacturing (AM), due to the design freedom provided by AM, and the increased performance that can be achieved with TO. One important aspect is to include the design rules associated with the process restrictions of AM to prevent the requirement of relatively large support...

Topology optimization with overhang filter considering accessibility of supports

Continuous front propagation-based overhang control for topology optimization with additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing enables the nearly uncompromised production of optimized topologies. However, due to the overhang limitation, some designs require a large number of supporting structures to enable manufacturing. Because these supports are costly to build and difficult to remove, it is desirable to find alternative designs that do not...

Overhang free topology optimization applied to flow optimization

Overhang angle control and optimal part orientation in topology optimization for additive manufacturing

Topology optimization of a transient thermo-mechanical problem using material penalization

Designing transient thermal mechanical systems is a challenging task. Material can have many different functions: it can provide heat capacity, heat conduction, mechanical stiffness or even function as an actuator. Topology optimization can provide the engineer with valuable insight on such a problem. One of the most popular topology...

Topology Optimization For Transient-Thermal-Mechanical Systems

Thermal error reduction is of major importance to the performance of any high-tech machine. Topology optimization can be a tool that is able to design geometries that reduce the thermal error, beyond human creativity. In this research, topology optimization is used to reduce the thermal error on a transient-thermal-mechanical problem. The...