A MATERIAL BASED MODEL FOR TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION OF THERMOELASTIC STRUCTURES

This paper presents the development of a computational model for the t opology optimization problem, using a material distribution approach, of a 2-D linear-elastic solid subjected to thermal loads, with a compl iance objective function and an isoperimetric constraint on volume. De fining formally the augmented Lagrangian associated with the optimizat ion problem, the optimality conditions are derived analytically. The r esults of analysis are implemented in a computer code to produce numer ical solutions for the optimal topology, considering the temperature d istribution independent of design. The design optimization problem is solved via a sequence of linearized subproblems. The computational mod el developed is tested in example problems. The influence of both the temperature and the, finite element model on the optimal solution obta ined is analysed.