A non-gradient approach for three dimensional topology optimization

The present work is devoted to the extension of the non-gradient approach, namely Proportional Topology Optimization (PTO), for compliance minimization of three-dimensional (3D) structures. Two schemes of material interpolation within the framework of the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP), i.e. the power function and the logistic function are analyzed. Through a comparative study, the efficiency of the logistic-type interpolation scheme is highlighted. Since no sensitivity is involved in the approach, a density filter is applied instead of sensitivity filter to avoid checkerboard issue