TITLE:

M2DO: Multiscale Multiphysics Design Optimization

DATE:

Friday, December 4th, 2015

TIME:

3:30 PM

LOCATION:

GMCS 214

SPEAKER:

Dr. Alicia Kim. Structural Engineering Department, UCSD

ABSTRACT:

There has been a rise of research interests in two notable areas of engineering design. One is to use more high fidelity design in conceptual design stage and the other is in design for additive manufacturing. Topology optimization is a design approach that has been identified as being able to address both of these challenges. Topology optimization is a most generalized form of structural optimization that can provide an unintuitive and potentially revolutionary design solution. Many case studies quote weight saving or performance improvement in the order of 20% – 80%. Topology optimization is traditionally formulated as material distribution problems where a finite element may or may not exist in the specified design domain. This discrete formulation produces a design that is fundamentally linked to the finite element representation and challenges in linking to a CAD or more traditional geometrical representation was a barrier to a wide adoption of topology optimization in the engineering design environment. The recent development of topology optimization uses the level set method which has a continuous geometry representation and together with its flexibility in topological changes, it can naturally integrate conceptual design to manufacturing. Our research group has been developing the level set topology optimization method to raise its maturity. We have also shown that the level set representation of a design eliminates the cumbersome post-processing typically required for manufacturing. The presentation will offer a perspective on the current research and the future trends of level set topology optimization.

HOST:

Dr. Satchi Venkataraman

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