Research Projects

Summary:

The global objective of the project is the development and implementation of an integrated system of topology optimal design of structures and mechanical structural elements based on growth techniques. As topology optimal we understand, in this project, the optimal design in which they are considered, simultaneously, properties, geometry or form, and topology variables.

For achieving this global objective it is necessary to investigate, mainly, the more suitable strategies and algorithms of optimization for each variable type and the resolution of the global problem. Furthermore, it is necessary to study the more suitable modular structure for the system and implement it so that the resulting system is useful.

The most notable and novel aspect of the proposed investigation is trying to obtain the optimal structure with properties, geometry and topology by means of growth from an initial structure as simple as possible. This procedure of growth contrasts with the techniques developed until this moment (structural universe in discrete structures, and homogenization, i.e., for continuous structures), in which it is started from elements that cover the whole existence dominium of the structure to obtain the optimal structure by means of elements and/or material elimination.

The availability of an integrated system of this type would be of great interest for the development and use of the structural optimization, since it would favour the obtaining of a succession of optimal designs (with an increasing size and level of complexity) that fulfilled the criteria or specifications of design, starting from a minimum initial data of the structure.

Results [+info]

GOE presented the obtained results of the project in "Jornadas de seguimiento de proyectos de investigación de la CICYT" on 26th and 27th of may in Zaragoza, 2007.