Optimal structural design considering flexibility

A topology optimization method based on the homogenization method (the homo genization design method) has been successfully applied to a variety of opt imization problems such as the stiffness maximization problem and the eigen -frequency maximization problem. In this study, a methodology to obtain the optimal structure design considering flexibility is developed as a new ext ension of the homogenization design method. First, flexibility is formulate d using the mutual energy concept. Second, a new multi-objective function i s proposed to obtain optimal solutions incorporating flexibility and stiffn ess. Next, the topology optimization procedure is constructed using the hom ogenization method and sequential linear programming (SLP). Finally, some e xamples are presented to confirm that the methodology presented here can pr ovide flexible structures satisfying the problem specifications. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.