A nonlocal approach to graded surface modeling in topology optimization

Singh S, Pflug L, Wein F, Stingl M (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 68

Article Number: 83

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1007/s00158-025-04024-9

Abstract

Additively manufactured structures often exhibit a correlation between their mechanical properties, such as stiffness, strength, and porosity, and their wall thickness. This correlation stems from the interplay between the manufacturing process and the properties of the filler material. In this study, we investigate the thickness-dependent effect on structural stiffness and propose a nonlocal integral model that introduces surface grading of Young’s modulus to capture this phenomenon. We incorporate this model into topology optimization for designing structures with optimized compliance subject to a volume constraint. Notably, elastically degraded surfaces penalize excessively thin features, effectively eliminating them from the optimized design. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated through two- and three-dimensional examples.

Authors with CRIS profile

Sukhminder Singh Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Mathematik (Kontinuierliche Optimierung) Lukas Pflug FAU Competence Center Scientific Computing (FAU CSC) Fabian Wein Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Mathematik (Kontinuierliche Optimierung) Michael Stingl Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Mathematik (Kontinuierliche Optimierung)

How to cite

APA:

Singh, S., Pflug, L., Wein, F., & Stingl, M. (2025). A nonlocal approach to graded surface modeling in topology optimization. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 68(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-025-04024-9

MLA:

Singh, Sukhminder, et al. "A nonlocal approach to graded surface modeling in topology optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization 68.4 (2025).

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