Based on a level set model and the homogenization theory, an optimization al- gorithm for ?nding the optimal con?guration of the microstructure with speci?ed properties is proposed, which extends current research on the level set method for structure topology opti- mization. The method proposed employs a level set model to implicitly describe the material interfaces of the microstructure and a Hamilton-Jacobi equation to continuously evolve the ma- terial interfaces until an optimal design is achieved. Meanwhile, the moving velocities of level set are obtained by conducting sensitivity analysis and gradient projection. Besides, how to handle the violated constraints is also discussed in the level set method for topological optimization, and a return-mapping algorithm is constructed. Numerical examples show that the method exhibits outstanding ?exibility of handling topological changes and ?delity of material interface represen- tation as compared with other conventional methods in literatures.
The numerical non-stability of a discrete algorithm of topology optimization can result from the inaccurate evaluation of element sensitivities. Especially, when material is added to elements, the estimation of element sensitivities is very inaccurate, even their signs are also estimated wrong. In order to overcome the problem, a new incremental sensitivity analysis formula is constructed based on the perturbation analysis of the elastic equilibrium increment equation, which can provide us a good estimate of the change of the objective function whether material is removed from or added to elements, meanwhile it can also be considered as the conventional sensitivity formula modified by a non-local element stiffness matrix. As a consequence, a binary discrete method of topology optimization is established, in which each element is assigned either a stiffness value of solid material or a small value indicating no material, and the optimization process can remove material from elements or add material to elements so as to make the objective function decrease. And a main advantage of the method is simple and no need of much mathematics, particularly interesting in engineering application.
