A new nonprobabilistic reliability-based topology optimization method for continuum structures with displacement constraints is proposed in this paper, in which the optimal layout consists of solid material and truss-like microstructure material simultaneously. The unknown-but-bounded uncertainties that exist in material properties, external loads, and safety displacements are considered. By utilizing the representative volume element analysis, rules of macro-micro stiffness performance equivalence can be confirmed. A solid material and truss-like microstructure material structure integrated design interpolation model is firstly constructed, in which design domain elements can be conducted to select solid material or truss-like microstructure material by a combination of the finite element method in the topology optimization process. Moreover, a new nonprobabilistic reliability measuring index, namely, the optimization feature distance is defined by making use of the area-ratio ideas. Furthermore, the adjoint vector method is employed to obtain the sensitivity information between the reliability measure and design variables. By utilizing the method of moving asymptotes, the investigated optimization problem can be iteratively solved. The effectiveness of the developed methodology is eventually demonstrated by two examples. KEYWORDS macro-micro stiffness performance equivalence, nonprobabilistic reliability-based topology optimization (NRBTO), the adjoint vector method, the representative volume element (RVE) analysis, unknown-but-bounded (UBB) uncertainties Int J Numer Methods Eng. 2019;119:239-260.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/nme
Summary
On account of the inevitable multisource uncertainty factors in compliant mechanisms, which seriously affect the accuracy of output motion, a nonprobabilistic reliability–based topology optimization (NRBTO) framework for compliant mechanisms with interval uncertainties is introduced. Combined with the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) model and the set‐theoretical interval method, the uncertainty quantification analysis is conducted to obtain mathematical approximations and boundary laws of considered mean compliance. By normalization treatment of the limit‐state function, a new quantified measure of the nonprobabilistic reliability is then defined. The compliance‐based NRBTO design method ensures the output motion realizing its target value accurately considering the uncertainty factors. The sensitivities of the nonprobabilistic reliability index with respect to design variables are calculated by the adjoint vector method. Two engineering examples are eventually presented to illustrate the applicability and the validity of the present problem statement as well as the proposed numerical techniques.
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