VOIGT-REUSS TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION FOR STRUCTURES WITH LINEAR ELASTIC-MATERIAL BEHAVIORS

The desired results of variable topology material layout computations are stable and discrete material distributions that optimize the perfo rmance of structural systems. To achieve such material layout designs a continuous topology design framework based on hybrid combinations of classical Reuss (compliant) and Voigt (stiff) mixing rules is investi gated. To avoid checkerboarding instabilities, the continuous topology optimization formulation is coupled with a novel spatial filtering pr ocedure. The issue of obtaining globally optimal discrete layout desig ns with the proposed formulation is investigated using a continuation method which gradually transitions from the stiff Voigt formulation to the compliant Reuss formulation. The very good performance of the pro posed methods is demonstrated on four structural topology design optim ization problems from the literature. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, L td.