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This paper proposes a topology optimization method for a multi-physics problem considering weight minimization with compliance, stress, and temperature constraints. Two static equations for thermal and structural problems are solved. A novel topology optimization formulation, i.e., lightweight design involving compliance, stress and temperature limits, is established using the rational approximation of material properties. A corrected P-norm function is employed to exactly evaluate the maximum stress and temperature of the structure. Moreover, iteration oscillations stemming from the high non-linearity of stress constraint are alleviated by means of a stabilizing control scheme based on the stability transformation method. The sensitivity analysis of the coupled multi-physics field is performed utilizing the adjoint method. Some numerical examples are adopted to demonstrate the validity and robustness of the proposed methodology. It is indicated that the topology considering the above three constraints simultaneously can achieve good mechanical and thermal performances, while the compliance constraint can accelerate the rate of convergence. The stricter compliance limit leads to a heavier structure and more uneven stress distribution but less iterations. The optimized topologies are dependent on the temperature range due to the effect of thermal expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermo‐elastic topology optimization with stress and temperature constraints is proposed to attack the complex multiphysics problem in this paper. Based on the rational approximation of material properties (RAMP), the coupled equations of mechanic and temperature field are solved. Two optimization problems, volume minimization with temperature and stress constraints, and traditional compliance minimization with volume and temperature constraints, are discussed for comparison. The stress stabilizing control scheme (SSCS) combined with global stress measure is presented to tackle highly nonlinear and local nature of stress with thermal expansion in varying temperature field. The adjoint method is applied to achieve the sensitivity of multiphysics field and the density function is updated utilizing the method of moving asymptotes (MMA). Representative examples are investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness and utility of the proposed method. Clear topology and stable iterative process can be obtained for complex coupled problem by means of the SSCS. Meanwhile, the topology with stress and temperature constraints has obvious sensitivity to even subtle change in temperature. The optimization design considering several stress constraints under multithermal conditions can work well in different temperature ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes two effective stabilizing control schemes for addressing the stress constrained thermo-elastic topology optimization in a non-uniform temperature field. Based on the density interpolation scheme, two linear elastic equations for coupling a thermo-elastic problem are considered. For comparison, different topology problem formulations for minimizing compliance or volume subject to stress constraints are solved. By virtue of a stabilization transform method, two stabilizing control schemes combined with the grouped aggregation method are developed to handle the challenging difficulties stemming from the local nature of highly nonlinear stress constraints. Moreover, the adjoint method is adopted to perform the sensitivity analysis. The design variables are updated by utilizing the method of moving asymptotes. The results of several typical numerical examples verify the validity of the proposed methodology, including the present stabilizing control schemes which can be employed to obtain clear topological design and fast convergence rate for thermo-elastic coupling problems. Meanwhile, compliance minimization design with stress constraints is appropriate to achieve balance between stress level and stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]