Stress-based topology optimization with bi-directional evolutionary tools

Resumo

This work presents a stress-based application of the bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization
(BESO) method for topology optimization of structures where the objective is to minimize the stress while
subjected to a structural volume constraint. The structure is discretized with a finite element mesh and subjected
to a static external load to evaluate the von Mises stress distribution that will be used to obtain an equivalent
global stress measure through a modified P-norm approach. The elemental sensitivity numbers are derived from
the modified P-norm stress and filtered to update the design. The results were compared to cases found in the
literature for problems based on stress and compliance. It was verified that the applied methodology was able to
obtain a maximum stress reduction.