Automatic construction of structural CAD models from 3D topology optimization

ABSTRACTThe integration of topology optimization (TO) methods with Computer-Aided design (CAD) arouses a growing interest for mechanical and structural design purposes. However, generating 3D optimized CAD models from raw TO results still remains a tedious task that requires significant experience and user input. This paper presents a fully automated process to generate 3D optimized CAD models from TO results that tend towards beam-like structures. Raw TO results are first derived into an optimized shape as a smooth triangulation. This triangulation is then derived as a curve skeleton, which is finally normalized to generate a CAD model composed with an assembly of standard structural straight beams. 3D beam structures obtained with this automatic process are validated through comparisons between FEA results obtained using mixed-dimensional FEA models and solid 3D tetrahedral FEA models. Efficiency of this automatic CAD model construction approach is demonstrated through applying it on several beam-like T...

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