Multiobjective Topology Optimization of Truss Structures for Assembly Devices Using Intelligent Swarm Techniques

Abstract The continuously growing variety of cars as well as increasingly shorter development periods necessitate new intelligent methods for supporting the planning and design process of production equipment, which is still based on experience and very time consuming at the moment. To solve these problems a new method for topology optimization of truss structures with objectives “lightweight construction”, “maximum stiffness” and “minimal costs” has been developed. Starting with a bionic preprocessing, ant colony optimization is used to detect suitable areas for truss structure in a given design space. After this particle swarm optimization determines positions of the truss structure nodes. Stochastic influences (e.g. sum and direction of the forces) are taken into the optimization method.