TopOpt with Assembly Constraints for Bolted Components
Optimizing Screw Accessibility and Assembly Requirements
Keywords: Lightweight Design, Topology Optimization, Connections Design, Mechanical Assemblies, Tool Accessibility
Scope
When considering assembly and connectivity in topology-optimized components, screw access domains are usually enforced as void regions. By doing so, the design domain where material can be placed is restricted, leading to sub-optimal designs and often to stress concentration. This project will address this issue by incorporating the tool accessibility domain into the optimization process. This way, void regions can be automatically located and shaped, ensuring optimality, and keeping assembly and inspection requirements within the specifications. This will be achieved by means of Level-Set Functions describing the volume occupied by the assembly tools, in combination with Mask Functions to ensure differentiability in gradient-based optimization frameworks.
