Topology Optimization of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators using Element Connectivity Parametriztion

Abstract

This paper presents the first application of topology optimization to the design of shape memory alloy actuators. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit strongly nonlinear, temperature-dependent material behavior. The complexity in the constitutive behavior makes the topology design of SMA structures intractable by the conventional element density-based topology optimization. Therefore, in the present study, the recently developed element connectivity parameterization (ECP) formulation is applied, which offers important advantages for complex nonlinear topology optimization problems. A history-independent constitutive model of SMAs is employed which allows efficient adjoint sensitivity analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is illustrated by several numerical examples.