Topology Optimization for Dynamic Scaling Application using a Gradient-based Optimization Approach

In recent years, topology optimization has received considerable attention from the research community the design of lightweight airframe structures. In this thesis, topology optimization has been used for designing a lifting surface for a small scaled model taking into account the timely new developments in addititive manufacturing. The design optimization aims to produce a scaled model with similar dynamic behavior as the full scaled model meaning that the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors for the full scaled and the scaled model present similar dynamic characteristics. The optimization algorithm based on the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method was chosen to distribute material in the scaled model. The influence of critical parameters related to SIMP such as the penalization factor and the use of a filter have been investigated. First, a single-material topology optimization is implemented, followed by a multi-material topology optimization to increase the design optimization space. To ensure a reasonably fast optimization process, the sequential approximate optimization algorithm is used. The topology optimization process was carried out using Matlab, while the finite element analysis was solved using the Abaqus software.