TOPOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF COMPLIANT MECHANISMS USING MULTICRITERIA OPTIMIZATION

Compliant mechanisms are mechanical devices that achieve motion via el astic deformation. A new method for topological synthesis of single-pi ece compliant mechanisms is presented, using a ''design for required d eflection'' approach. A simple beam example is used to illustrate this concept and to provide the motivation for a new multi-criteria approa ch for compliant mechanism design. This new approach handles motion an d loading requirements simultaneously for a given set of input force a nd output deflection specifications. Both a truss ground structure and a two-dimensional continuum are used in the implementation which is i llustrated with design examples.(2)