Structural Topology Optimization Using a Moving Morphable Component-Based Method Considering Geometrical Nonlinearity

The moving morphable component (MMC)-based method is a newly developed approach for topology optimization. In the MMC-based method, the design problem is formulated using a set of morphable components, and the optimized structural topologies are obtained by optimizing shapes, sizes, and locations of these components. However, the optimization process often tends to break the connection between the load area and the supported boundary. This disconnection has a strong influence on the convergence, especially when the large deformation effects are considered. In this paper, a method is developed for topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures by using the MMC-based method. A scheme is developed to address the disconnection issue in the optimization process. Several numerical examples are used to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.