Numerical evaluation of material type on topology optimization of thin square plates

Abstract

This numerical paper including topology optimization method deals with the investigation the impact of the material type on final mass as topology density and the total deflection of thin square plates under clamped-free boundary conditions. The clamped boundary condition was employed at the bottom edge of each plate, whereas the other edges were considered as free. Various compressive forces such as 5kN and 7 kN in numerical analyses were applied to top edge of square plates. Numerical determinations were conducted by the static structure and topology optimization in ANSYS WORKBENCH commercial software. The final mass results for square plates in topology optimization were found in accordance with von Mises stress data calculated. The numerical results show that the lowest final mass and highest deflection data of thin square plates were found in accordance with Magnesium Alloy, Aluminum Alloy, Copper Alloy, and Structural Steel, respectively. The highest and lowest mass reduction results in the topology optimization were obtained utilizing Magnesium Alloy and Structural Steel, respectively.