Local Perimeter and Non-Linear Filtering for Minimum Length and Overhang Control in Topology Optimization
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One of the current challenges facing the transport industry today is the development of new lightweight structures. Topology optimization techniques enable weight reduction while minimizing design time and cost. However, these methods result in complex designs that can only be manufactured using additive manufacturing. As a result, numerical optimization must be integrated with 3D printing constraints to ensure manufacturability, such as minimal length scale and overhang control. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of optimal design while accounting for minimum length and overhang constraints in the additive manufacturing process. We introduce the concept of non-linear filters to penalize overhangs in the 3D printing sense while ensuring a length scale in the opposite direction. Besides, this filtering is combined with another concept, the local perimeter, to satisfy the 3D printing constraints in a more localized manner. The results demonstrate that local bars with small length scales are eliminated, and a vertical orientation of bars is achieved